2 More Say They Were Abused by Nm Priests

By Sandra Ramirez
KOAT
November 19, 2015

http://www.koat.com/news/2-more-say-they-were-abused-by-nm-priests/36532290

[with video]

Two more men have come forward to say they were abused by New Mexico priests.

They decided to tell their stories after hearing about the new movie "Spotlight," which premieres Friday. It tells the story of how a group of journalists uncovered the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.

The two men who say they were abused in New Mexico say they feel there's still a bit too much secrecy at play.

"I won't be anonymous anymore," says Brian Gutierrez.

The movie is based on a true story of how the Boston Globe exposed what became a massive scandal of abuse involving Catholic priests.

Gutierrez and Ken Wolter say they lived that story.

"When I was a teenager I was abused by a priest named Sabine Griego," Gutierrez says.

Gutierrez was a freshman at the University of New Mexico when he felt a calling to become a priest. But he says the priest who began as his mentor turned into his abuser.

"Of all the things he robbed from me that day, was my faith," he says.

Wolter was an altar boy at St. Bernadette's Parish in the Northeast Heights. He says he was abused for two years.

"I brought a picture of myself at 10 years old with my abuser, Father Perrault," he says.

Both men claim the Archdiocese of Santa Fe knew there were reports of alleged abuse involving the priests and did nothing to stop it. They hope that putting their names and faces out in the open will compel the Archdiocese to take responsibility for the things they say happened to them and others.

Both Gutierrez and Wolter have filed lawsuits over their alleged abuse.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe could not be reached for comment in time for publication.