Women sue Florida Seventh-day Adventists following Orlando pastor's abuse

clickorlando.com ^ | May 29, 2019 | Emilee Speck - Digital journalist, Nadeen Yanes - Reporter

[Morgana]

ORLANDO, Fla. - Attorneys for two victims abused by Orlando Seventh-day Adventists pastor Billy Leveille have filed a lawsuit against the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, alleging the church was negligent after the Orlando pastor was convicted of sexual activity with a minor and child abuse.

The women who wanted to be named and tell their stories had attended Bethel Elise Haitienne Des Adventists Church in Orlando, where Leveille was the senior pastor.

Kenia Gilles said she was 16 years old and Jeny Desronvil said she was 21 when the abuse began, shortly after they were both elected and appointed to the church's secretarial team.

"In my head, I just had to close my eyes and deal with it and soon enough, but that was not the case," said Gilles, now 19. "I blamed myself for a long, long time."

[Morgana]

"The Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists "knew or should have known" Leveille had "proclivities to seek sexual pleasure from his minor parishioners and/or prior instances of sexual misconduct" and allowed him to remain in a position of authority and control over children, according to the complaint."

Am going out on a limb here but from that statement sounds like that someone knew this pastor had been trouble in the past and had been allowed to keep preaching.

[ravenwolf]

16 and 21, redicules.

[VietVet876]

All these recent stories of pastoral abuse summons jokes from my childhood about the notorious Pastor Fuzz.

[Bigg Red]

16 and 21 — children?

[John O]

got to sue where the deep pockets are I guess.

[Jacquerie]

For some reason, the usual anti-Catholic bigots at FR are quiet.