Former Manhattan Beach pastor accused of sexual harassment, battery

By Colleen Park
My News LA
March 25, 2015

http://mynewsla.com/crime/2015/03/25/archdiocese-pastor-sued-for-sexual-harassment-by-married-catholic-woman/

A married Catholic woman is suing the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and an assistant pastor for allegedly touching her in an inappropriate way at a South Bay church last year.

Catherine Bergin filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday, alleging sexual harassment, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She seeks unspecified damages against the archdiocese and the Rev. Nicholas Assi.

Monica Valencia, an archdiocese spokeswoman, issued a statement on its behalf today.

“The archdiocese received a report of misconduct against Father Assi by an adult female parishioner in 2014,” the statement saysd. “The matter was reported to the police and Father Assi was removed from ministry pending the result of the police investigation.”

The matter was investigated by law enforcement, and the District Attorney’s Office declined to press any charges, according to the archdiocese.

“After cooperating with law enforcement and following all archdiocesan protocols, Father Assi was returned to ministry as a priest in good standing,” according to the statement.

The suit states that Assi, currently the assistant pastor at St. Basil’s Catholic Church in Los Angeles, was assigned to American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach as an assistant pastor from 2009 until last May 2.

Assi was known as Father Nick and became a friend of the Bergin family while at American Martyrs, the suit says. He often brought Middle Eastern treats for Bergin’s children and “was always warm and friendly,” according to her court papers.

But last April 17, while doing volunteer work in the sacristy, Assi came up from behind Bergin, put his arms around her and whispered, “Hi, darling,” the suit alleges.

Assi caressed Bergin’s lower abdomen and “put his nose in plaintiff’s neck and took deep breaths,” according to the lawsuit.

Assi engaged in similar inappropriate behavior with Bergin in December 2013 and March 2014, kissing her on the lips on the latter occasion, the lawsuit alleges.

Bergin says she told her husband about Assi’s alleged misconduct and also complained to church leaders. A monsignor reacted to Assi’s alleged behavior by telling Bergin, “I told him to use more discretion,” the suit says.

An investigator who looked into the the complaints on behalf of the archdiocese told Bergin that Assi “totally did it” and did not deny the plaintiff’s allegations. However, the investigator also denied Bergin was sexually assaulted and said Assi “only committed some boundary violations,” according to the complaint.

Assi was forced to leave American Martyrs Church last May and an announcement that he was being placed on administrative leave was printed in the parish bulletin, the suit states.

However, an archdiocese oversight board that monitors clergy misconduct recommended that Assi “be reinstated to priestly functions and reassigned to another parish,” according to the plaintiff.

Assi also has been assigned to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pomona and St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Lakewood, according to the lawsuit.