Lawsuit filed in Virginia charges abuse by Father Euteneuer
CWN - June 28, 2012
A Virginia woman has filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Arlington, Bishop Paul Loverde, and Human Life International (HLI), charging that they were negligent in allowing sexual abuse by Father Thomas Euteneuer while he was serving as president of HLI, which is located within the Arlington diocese.
Father Euteneuer resigned his position at HLI in August 2010. The pro-life organization later revealed that the priest had been involved in sexual misconduct, and Father Euteneuer admitted to “violations of chastity,” while insisting that they “were limited to one person only, an adult woman.” He was recalled to the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida, and later suspended from priestly ministry.
The plaintiff in the lawsuit charges that Father Euteneuer engaged in sexual acts in the course of what he said was an exorcism. The Arlington diocese has said that Father Euteneuer was never authorized to perform exorcism. A spokesman for HLI said that the priest’s misconduct was “never within the scope of his employment with HLI.”
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Posted by: AgnesDay -
Jun. 29, 2012 5:30 PM ET USA
If indeed the allegations of an unauthorized exorcism are correct, the rest of the story pales into insignificance. Sexual indiscretions, bad as they are, are the regrettable heritage of our wounded nature. Unauthorized exorcism, and indeed all spiritual disobedience, is pride and toying with the Evil One. This does not happen out of the blue. This goes on for a long time.
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Posted by: FredC -
Jun. 29, 2012 2:46 PM ET USA
In obtaining my VIRTUS certification, I learned that people with just one sexual offense are not to be trusted -- ever. Apparently, the remaining 15% of the population teeters on the brink. If man judges, surely not many are saved. Perhaps VIRTUS should publish the data that supports its judgment.
