Posted on 04/05/2008 1:16:42 PM PDT by Graybeard58
PEORIA — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria says one of its priests is denying allegations in a lawsuit that he forced a woman to have an abortion after she became pregnant.
Holly Force, and her husband, Christopher, are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed this week in Madison County in Edwardsville. The lawsuit names the Rev. Thomas Szydlik, who church officials say has stepped down from the ministry until the lawsuit is resolved.
Holly Force claims Szydlik began pursuing a relationship with her in 2004 while she attended a church in Peoria. The complaint states the Forces left Peoria and moved to Edwardsville to distance themselves from Szydlik.
The priest was an assistant pastor at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Peoria in 2004.
Force alleges she had an abortion in July 2006 due to coercion by Szydlik.
Diocese Chancellor Patricia Gibson said Szydlik told Bishop Daniel Jenky in March 2005 that he had feelings for a woman, but that no vows had been broken. Szydlik asked then to be transferred to a different parish.
The diocese lists Szydlik as a priest at Immaculate Conception parish in Nauvoo. He was ordained in 2003.
In February 2006, Szydlik obtained a leave of absence and cut off contact with the diocese, Gibson said. In September 2006, Szydlik told the bishop his relationship with the woman had ended, and asked to return to active ministry.
The bishop sent him to a therapy program, and after five months, Szydlik was allowed to return to ministry under supervision.
In its statement, the diocese said it acted decisively on every occasion as information was brought forward.
“The bishop sent him to a therapy program, and after five months, Szydlik was allowed to return to ministry under supervision.”
What kind of therapy is there to cure a man of being heterosexual?
The priesthood?
Cheeze louise!! I spent the better part of my teenage years in that neck of the woods. Lived in Woodriver (just down the road) and went to SIU-Edwardsville.
Now I've never been to Ithaca, but SIUE is about as close as I ever want to come. SIUE/Edwardsville very, very....er..."progressive." The fact that this chick and her husband* moved to Edwardsville to distance themselves right there sends up the yellow warning flags. Outside SIU, Edwardsville has no real industry than Berkley or Ithaca.
"Holly Force, and her husband, Christopher..." Hum. Long haired, dope smoking, vegetarian, anti-war, hate-Bush, "opened-minded", multi-cultural, Yugo driving socialist progressives
* Speaking which, why didn't her husband man-up and defend her from this apparently love besotted man of the cloth? And the fact that this priest was attracted to this (kind of) woman says a lot about him too. Obviously one of those "liberation theology" priests. Both Loyola and De Salle must be spinning in their graves like a pair of turbines.
This priest violated his vows, caused scandal that continues, and should have been permanently removed from ministry. IOW, he should have been kicked out of the priesthood. I don’t understand how a bishop could allow this type of situation to continue...
Suit claims Catholic priest impregnated parishioner then coerced her into abortion
Something about repentance and forgiveness that Jesus Christ teaches about comes to mind.
repentance and forgiveness, but not allowed back into a position of authority!!!!
Amen. And penance. A life of penance. I'm thinking hard labor.
Repentance and forgiveness will not bring that little baby back to life!
I also believe in accountability. A priest who violates his vows of celibacy and causes an abortion should be removed from ministry permanently. Then again, I also believe in capital punishment.
What chutzpah. No one can force an adult woman to have an extramarital affair, much less force her to have an abortion.
Oh. So he is guilty? These accusations are fact?
Has anyone heard of innocent until proven guilty? Has the thought that maybe this person and her husband may be trying to cash in on “the scandal” crossed anyone’s mind?
Geez! What if there is a chance that he is innocent?
Ok, that’s a possibility. But he had a relationship, whether with this woman or some other, grounds for removal.
You don’t think she might have had a DNA test to prove he’s the daddy?
It’s not like the old days, when the priest can persuade the woman to tell the cuckolded husband that he is the father.
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