November 21, 2008
- Yakima, Washington 29
Priest Accused of Sex Abuse
By Heather Reese
The black cloud hanging over the Catholic Church just won't go away. There are more accusations of sexual abuse against a former priest from Yakima diocese.
It was just this past spring when seminarian Juan Gonzalez was in court, facing charges of viewing child porn online. Now, Father Robert Siler, the chief of staff in Yakima is facing the cameras again. Christopher Breen was a priest at St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima in the '60's and early '70's. A woman, identified as "M.C." in court records now claims Breen sexually abused her when she was a teenager. She is suing both Breen and the Yakima diocese. "This is the first complaint the Diocese of Yakima received alleging abuse by Mr. Breen during his 16 years of service as a priest of the diocese," Siler told Action News. Father Siler also acknowledged every time a story a like this surfaces, the Church is found guilty in the court of public opinion. "The Catholic Church has gotten a lot of publicity about this issue and deservedly so. But sexual abuse is not just a problem in the Catholic Church. It's a problem in many churches and in schools," says Siler. Tim Kosnoff is the Seattle lawyer representing "M.C." He's an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. He told Action News he's handled hundreds of cases against the Catholic Church and says it's not unusual for charges of this nature to be filed some 40 years after the fact. "Victims oftentimes don't appreciate the problems they experienced in adulthood are causually related to the childhood sexual abuse," says Kosnoff. Father Siler really can't comment on the specifics of the case but he says in recent years the Church has made a strong effort to perform due diligence and is in the process of developing a new code of conduct that will be signed by all priest and deacons. Christopher Breen left the priesthood in 1976. He lives in Kenmore and this case will be heard in King County Superior Court. Anyone wishing to make a report regarding sexual abuse by personnel of the Yakima diocese is encouraged to call the diocese's confidential abuse hotline: 1-888-276-4490. |
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