Suit Alleges Priest Molested, Threatened Student in 1980

By Manya A. Brachear
Chicago Tribune
March 3, 2005

A former Roman Catholic priest has been accused of molesting a minor 25 years ago when he was an assistant pastor at Holy Name Cathedral.

A lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court this week accuses James V. Flosi of sexual assault, battery and negligence stemming from an encounter with a Quigley Theological Seminary student in 1980.

In the suit, Michael Callo, 39, alleges that Flosi invited him to lunch, then took him to the rectory and molested him. The suit also says that after the assault Callo was subjected to "severe and egregious threats" aimed at keeping him silent, causing emotional and psychological damage.

At the time of the alleged assault, Flosi worked at Holy Name and as director of the archdiocesan office of separated and divorced catholics. After resigning from the priesthood in 1992, Flosi founded AIDSCARE, a non-profit organization that helps people with HIV and AIDS live independently.

From 1971 to 1976, Flosi served as assistant pastor at St. Hubert in Hoffman Estates, then served at Holy Name. From 1985 to 1988, he was an associate pastor at St. Luke in River Forest. From 1989 to 1990, he was an associate pastor at St. Gertrude in Franklin Park. And from 1990 to 1992, he was an associate pastor at St. Giles in Oak Park.

Holy Name Cathedral and the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago were also named in the suit for alleged negligent supervision and breach of duty. As of Wednesday, neither Holy Name nor archdiocesan officials had seen the lawsuit.

Flosi, of Chicago, did not return repeated telephone calls.