A Boston Catholic priest who became famous for advocating for the powerful Bernard Cardinal Law to resign after a church abuse scandal now faces his allegations of sexual misconduct, according to a new lawsuit claims. Father Walter Cuenin is accused of forcing a 20-year-old male Brandeis University student into sex more than 10 years ago.
The priest became famous two decades ago when he was instrumental in exposing a systemic coverup of widespread sexual abuse within the church. He was one of more than 60 priests involved in the investigation. Mitchell Garabedian, the lawyer for the male victim, said “Father Cuenin apparently forgot to look in the mirror when he called upon disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law to resign amid the clergy sexual abuse crisis in Boston.”
Cuenin denies that any sexual contact occurred in the hotel room however he does remember the victim personally. The priest is confined to a wheelchair in a Virginia nursing home. He said, “I did not engage in any sexual misconduct with him.” He was asked about the seeming disparity between the new accusations and his work.
He replied, “They can see it however they want to see it.” The suit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court. It alleges that The priest invited the 20-year-old victim to join him on a trip from the Boston school to New York City in December 2014 to attend a concert. The victim reported that before returning to the university shared a single-bed room at the Millennium Hilton Hotel with the clergyman.
The lawsuit claims that the two drank together and discussed using Viagra to watch pornography.” It also alleges “Cuenin sexually abused, sexually assaulted, and made sexual contact” with the victim. The priest confirmed the broad details of the trip but denied drinking booze and claims of sexual talk or contact. The former student says he’s suffering to this day.
The suit claims that he suffers from severe and permanent emotional distress, and physical manifestations of emotional distress,” and so cannot “fully describe all of the details of that violence and the extent of the harm he suffered as a result.” The lawyer representing the accuser was also instrumental in the campaign against church abuse in Boston.
His work is still felt in religious circles. The hit film “Spotlight,” chronicled his work alongside the Boston Globe. Garabedian was played by Stanley Tucci. Cardinal Law was forced to resign in 2002. Allegations that he moved abuser priests around as part of a pedophile scandal coverup were cited. Law was given a high-paying position in Rome instead of paying any price for his actions.
Garabedian said, “My client has come forward not only to empower himself and other sexual abuse survivors but also to make the world safer for children.” However, after his crusade, Cuenin remained controversial. He is infamous for his outspoken support of gay marriage and women priests. He was a “popular” Catholic chaplain at Brandeis for just under a decade. He rapidly resigned from his role for medical reasons after these allegations surfaced.