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  Former Student Accuses Ex-loyola Academy Principal of Abuse

By Duaa Eldeib
Chicago Tribune
May 4, 2010

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-loyola-abuse-20100504,0,2968536.story

Colorado man's accusation follows priest's admission of "inappropriate relationship" with another ex-pupil

Jesuit authorities said they are investigating the statements of a second former Loyola Academy student who has made sexual allegations against a past president of the Wilmette school.

The Rev. Larry Reuter was removed from active ministry in March after he admitted an "inappropriate relationship" with a student, the Tribune reported Tuesday. Reuter had served as president of the Jesuit school from 1975 to 1990. Loyola was an all-male high school until 1994.

A Colorado man who grew up in Chicago and attended Loyola Academy from 1985 to 1989 said Tuesday he was abused by Reuter during his junior and senior years.

"I saw the article, and I couldn't believe it," he said. "I had so much outrage. This was not a sole incident."

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The man said Reuter mentored him and helped him get a job at the school after hours.

"One evening when I was working at the switchboard was the first time he did it," the man said. "He kissed me on the lips, and then it sort of became a regular occurrence when he would say goodbye or no one was around. And his hugs weren't normal hugs."

The former student said it got to the point where the kisses and accompanying behavior was normal, so he did not tell anyone of the alleged abuse.

"I believed, 'You always trust a priest. What they're doing is leading a perfect lifestyle,'" he said.

It wasn't until after a therapy session about 10 years ago that he said he told his family. The man contacted the school Tuesday.

After receiving a phone call from a former student, the school notified the Cook County state's attorney's office and the Office of Victim Advocacy at the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus and also referred the former student to the society's Office of Victim Advocacy, according to a statement.

"We strongly urge anyone who has been abused by an adult while at Loyola Academy, no matter how long ago it may have occurred, to report this to law enforcement authorities and to Loyola Academy," Loyola Academy's president, the Rev. Patrick McGrath, said in the statement.

Contact: deldeib@tribune.com

 
 

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