PHILIPSTOWN (NY)
The National Herald [Long Island, NY]
November 8, 2024
By Theodore Kalmoukos
Expatriate Christopher Bowen filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of America and St. Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New York, alleging that he was sexually abused at age 14 while an inmate at the Academy….
Mr. Bowen, now 54, names his abuser as Finley Everett Eubanks in legal documents available to The National Herald and in a written interview with The National Herald in which he describes in detail what was delivered and describes his traumatic experience that marked his life, even having “suicidal tendencies”, while the “nightmares” continue to this day.
Telephone and text messages of “E.K.” to the director of the Academy of St. Basil’s, priest Constantine Sitaras, and to the Legal Advisor of the Archdiocese, George Tsougarakis, remained unanswered.
The interview of Mr. Christopher Bowen is as follows:
…
“E.K.”: The Academy back then was a boarding school, right?
Christopher Bowen: In my view it was a “boarding school” in name only. It was not licensed to operate as a child care facility, nor was it recognized by the state of New York. The title Boarding School was given by themselves without any basis of permission or approval. That’s why they were forced in 2004 by the NY Office of Child and Services to apply for a license to operate as a child care facility and at first the state refused and they almost closed. I can provide you with reliable evidence on the matter.
“E.K.”: What happened there, can you remember?
Christopher Bowen: It would take too much space to list them. In the older boys’ dorm, it was a regular occurrence on Friday nights that Everett (Eubanks) would play pornographic films in the TV room and all the boys would watch them. There were too many instances of inappropriate comments, touching, slapping. Everett would come to my bed many times at night, stick out his penis and ask me to fuck him… and when I said no, he would ask me to fuck him…
“E.K.”: Who was this Eubanks?
Christopher Bowen: Finley Everett Eubanks, was a music teacher, religion teacher, dorm warden and administrative officer from 1981 to 1987. We tried to get personnel records from the Academy but they claim they have none. There is also no record that Eubanks had any teaching certification or experience working with children prior to his employment at St. Basil’s Academy. In 1991 he revealed that he was gay. He died in 2002 in Swainsboro, GA.
“E.K.”: Do you know if he abused other children?
Christopher Bowen: To the extent that he abused me, I don’t know, but as I told you earlier he was sexually exploiting the children in his charge by regularly showing them pornographic films.
“E.K.”: Do you think these children are willing to go to the Competent Authorities?
Christopher Bowen: I know of at least three former classmates who have agreed to testify that Eubanks regularly showed us pornographic films. We have also spoken to several others who do not want to talk about it. We are a total of five people who have filed separate lawsuits from separate abusers.
…
“E.K.”: Why did you delay all these years to go to the authorities and file a complaint?
Christopher Bowen: I lived with chronic depression and panic attacks for over 30 years after my time at the Academy, which affected all aspects of my life, relationships, work, career. There were weeks when I couldn’t get out of bed. I suffered from insomnia and nightmares. Because of the nature of the abuse I endured and was used to over time seeing the abuse as ‘normal’ I didn’t know what was happening to me. It wasn’t until I was suicidal in 2016 that I sought serious psychiatric help. I entered a program for systemic therapy where I participated in group therapy for 3 hours daily for several months. It was through this program and private therapy that I finally understood what had happened to me and why I had the symptoms I had. I was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder in 2016 and in 2020 I filed the lawsuit.
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“E.K.”: What do you expect from the lawsuit?
Christopher Bowen: I expect the truth will eventually see the light of day. We Greeks are proud of the ideas of honor, love and honor.
I expect the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Academy of Saint Basil to take responsibility for the harm their dereliction of duty has caused to me and many others. To take responsibility for not protecting the most vulnerable children of their own community.
…
The complete story in Greek can be found at this link.