Six women are suing the Catholic Diocese of Austin alleging the church took no action after they reported that a priest sexually abused and harassed them for years.
In the lawsuit filed Wednesday in Travis County state district court, the six unnamed women claim the Rev. Isidore Ndagizimana hugged, touched and groped them while he was at Austin’s St. Thomas More church. They claim he would “hold women against their will” and engaged in “sexual propositions, comments and advances.”
Some of the women claim they reported the abuse to the Diocese but were “silenced.” The lawsuit was filed against Ndagizimana, the diocese and Bishop Joe S. Vásquez.
The diocese said it is currently reviewing the lawsuit, but that is is “difficult” to respond to allegations “because of the lack of specificity in the lawsuit.”
“A response at this time would require the diocese to make assumptions about the allegations and the unnamed plaintiffs,” said Christian Gonzalez, a spokesman for the diocese. “Out of respect for all those involved, the diocese will respond to the allegations in its answer to the court after it is formally served with the lawsuit and had a reasonable time to investigate the claims.”
Gonzalez said Ndagizimana has been on leave since August. Vásquez, the bishop overseeing the St. Thomas More church, was attending a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
“Upon being notified of the lawsuit’s filing, Bishop Vásquez authorized the extension of an invitation to meet with the unnamed plaintiffs,” Gonzalez said. “He also extends his prayers for the unnamed plaintiffs.”
Some of the women say that when they first reported the abuse, Vásquez told them to trust the diocese and have patience. The suit claims the diocese gave Ndagizimana some vacation time, but that he returned to work as the church’s pastor within a few weeks.
Ultimately, the lawsuit claims, the diocese and the bishop decided to send Ndagizimana away for short counseling and then move him to St. Mary’s church in Brenham.
“But that response is no solution; it simply starts the abusive process over again,” the lawsuit reads.
For a longer version of this article, please visit https://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Six-women-claim-Austin-priest-abused-them-13393281.php.