| Updated: 4/13/2011 10:49 pm |
Published: 4/13/2011 5:02 pm |
LITTLE ROCK, AR - "I think that it's time to stop being scared and to stop being silent for things we, that we didn't cause," said a woman before stopping to compose herself. She filed suit against the Little Rock Catholic Diocese Wednesday, saying Father Charles Kanu sexually abused and exploited her when she went to him for counseling.
She spoke to the media but did not reveal her name.
"I do feel very strongly that there are other women out there that have suffered by his hand, and I hope that in my courage to come forward that it is ok and that there is healing to be found," she said.
The woman claims Father Kanu sexually abused her between 2009 and 2010 while counseling her. She thinks Kanu is now in Nigeria so the defendant in her lawsuit is Bishop Anthony Taylor, the highest ranking authority at the Catholic Diocese.
No one from the Diocese was willing to go on camera with Fox16 when we asked, but they did give us a copy of a statement issued in January, saying allegations of professional misconduct against Father Kanu are credible. The statement doesn't give any specifics about the misconduct.
The woman who filed suit is seeking in excess of $5 million in damages.
According to a spokesperson inside the Diocese, Father Kanu has been suspended and removed as a priest pending further investigation.
