Sex Lawsuit Against Pastor Settled

Miami Herald
January 24, 1998

The pastor of a Pompano Beach church and a woman who accused him of sexual advances have reached an out-of-court settlement.

Details of the settlement between the Rev. Thomas Foudy, pastor of St. Coleman Catholic Church, and Alinka Sullivan were not disclosed.

Still in the works: A movie based on a book by Sullivan, titled The Passionate Priest.

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A part-time model and writer who accused a prominent Broward priest of sexual advances has dropped her lawsuits after reaching an out-of-court settlement.

Terms were not disclosed, but she dropped the case the day a judge was to hear the priest's attorney argue to dismiss the case on grounds the woman lied about the purpose of the suit and threatened witnesses.

The Rev. Thomas Foudy, pastor of St. Coleman Catholic Church in Pompano Beach, has denied the allegation.

Neither side would say whether money was paid to settle the suit or whether other concessions were made.

Alinka Sullivan, 56, of Lighthouse Point filed the suit in 1996 claiming Foudy had seduced her into a yearlong affair after she had gone to him for counseling. Sullivan's name later became public when it was revealed she had written a racy novel in which the main character suggested seducing a gay man was "deliciously sinful, as if she were seducing a priest."

She has also written a movie script, The Passionate Priest, which resembled the affair she alleged with Foudy.

Foudy's attorney filed motions to dismiss the suit on grounds Sullivan threatened witnesses who were to testify that Sullivan told them she wanted Foudy fired so he would be free to marry her.

Sullivan also dropped her lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Miami.