Former Bronx Priest Sues NY Archdiocese for Libel in Sex Scandal Allegations
A former Bronx priest is suing New York archdiocese for libel in sexual abuse allegations hes says are false. According to the accused, Charles Kavanaugh, he says his accuser recanted his story.
In Kavanaugh's court filing, he says his main accuser has recanted allegations he made in 2002 that he molested him when he was a teen during a church trip to Washington, D.C.
According to a news report from NBC-4, which the accused is using to base his lawsuit, he was accused of getting into the accuser, Donohue's bed in the D.C.-area hotel room and rubbing against him. Donohue also said that when Kavanaugh held his hands during prayer, it made him uncomfortable.
Donohue said in court earlier this year that the D.C. trip actually took place when he was a college sophomore and not a minor, according to the New York Times."That is a flat-out lie. There are not multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor," said Kavanaugh’s sister and attorney Ann Mandt. "And that’s why we sued them. Because it is a lie."
Kavanaugh was convicted at a church trial. In May, Catholic church spokesman Joseph Zwilling said in a news release that Kavanaugh deserved to be kicked out of the church because there were "multiple counts" of sexual abuse.
"I stand by the truthfulness and accuracy of my May 1, 2012, statement," he said.
Kavanaugh had been Vicar of Development for the Catholic Church in New York and served for more than 40 years as a priest. His last post was head of St. Raymond’s Church in the Bronx before he was defrocked.
For the last decade, Kavanaugh has called allegations against him "false" and repeatedly has demanded a "full and fair hearing" in public. His attorneys say they in part blame former Cardinal Egan, who they said was under scrutiny for allegations he mishandled abuse charges by other priests when he led the church in Connecticut.Kavanaugh lost his job, his home and his pension and now counts on friends help and support in Florida where he now lives.
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