News
2006-04-13
American priest
who sued own diocese for alleged abuse quits priesthood
A Roman Catholic
priest who sued his own diocese last year for alleged
abuse by another diocesan priest more than
A Roman Catholic
priest who sued his own diocese last year for alleged
abuse by another diocesan priest more than 25 years ago has
left the priesthood. John Nesbella, 43, announced his
decision Tuesday in Altoona, Pa., citing criticism he
received from fellow clergy after he spoke out against
gay priests.
Nesbella sued the Altoona-Johnstown diocese in
February 2005, alleging he was sexually molested when
he was 16 years old by the Reverend Martin Brady, his
high school teacher. Brady died in 2003.
"This is the end of a sad tale of how wicked
so-called Catholic priests and bishops drove me and a
few other priests out because we dared to speak up
about the corrupt brotherhood of homosexuals in the
priesthood," Nesbella told a local newspaper for a story in
Wednesday's editions.
Rob Egan, spokesman for the diocese, said only,
"It's a personal decision."
Bishop Joseph Adamec placed Nesbella on a leave
of absence after Nesbella sued the diocese, saying at
the time that it would be difficult to conduct a
thorough investigation because of Brady's death. He also
said it would be difficult for Nesbella to be an
effective minister while he sued the diocese. The
lawsuit is still pending.
Nesbella said he may try to join an Eastern rite
church, which he says tends to be more conservative
than the Roman Catholic Church. (AP)
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