Man Calls For Indictments After Making Accusations Against Priest

BRUNSWICK, Ohio – A criminal investigation is underway after a man alleged that he was molested by a northeast Ohio priest more than 20 years ago, Action News' Tom Meyer reported.

The alleged victim, 35-year-old Chris Kodger, is angry, vocal and calling for indictments.

Kodger said that Father James Mulica molested him when he was only 14. Mulica served at the Chapel of Divine Word in Kirtland, Ohio.

"We had gone swimming, so I'm in swimming trunks, and we start drinking beer," Kodger said. "He gets me drunk and then he's assaulting me."

Kodger (pictured, above) now lives an isolated life in Alaska, but he flew back to his parents' home in Brunswick to break his silence. A painful process that included some negative words directed at Bishop Anthony Pilla.

"I think Pilla is far worse than a perpetrator because he shelters, feeds, clothes them and puts them where they can get more children," Kodger said. "Really, he's providing prey to these perverts."

Kodger said that Pilla promised that Mulica would never be in contact with children again, but then knowingly moved Mulica from one church and school to others, including Cleveland's Holy Redeemer.

The family was most upset when they said that the diocese tried to reassign Mulica to the Kirtland church.

"That's when I knew I was an absolutely worthless piece of human garbage and the church never cared for me at all," Kodger said.

Pilla declined to be interviewed, but a statement from the diocese said that Mulica received treatment within a day or two and, based on professional advice, he returned to ministry in the diocese in 1983 -- two years after the alleged incident.

Kodger said that he wants Pilla to resign. He gave a statement to Kirtland Police in the hopes that Pilla would be charged with criminal conspiracy.

"Bishop Pilla, you belong in prison with other predators," Kodger said. "This is worse than murder. Murder is forgivable, said Jesus, not the scandalizing of children."

Mulica has reportedly relocated to Arizona and could not be reached for comment.

Now it's up to the Lake County prosecutor to decide what, if any, charges will be filed.

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NewsNet5.com

Victim Of Priest Abuse Wants Changes To System

Local Man Meets With Bishop Pilla

POSTED: 5:45 p.m. EDT June 10, 2002

CLEVELAND -- The pressure is on for Cleveland Bishop Anthony Pilla and others who are meeting this week in Dallas to restore faith in the Catholic Church.


	CHURCH SCANDALS Highlights Of Sex Abuse Response Proposal Meeting Of Bishops: Will It Help? Timeline For Boston Archdiocese Church Too Lenient? Should Celibacy Be Optional? Explaining Pedophilia Discuss: What Can The Church Do? Your Thoughts On The Policy Recommendations?

The church officials are gathering to decide what to do about priests who sexually abuse children.

NewsChannel5's Tony Gaskins put that question to a man who was 14 years old when a priest violated his trust.

Despite intense counseling, Chris Kodger said that he still carries the deep wounds inflicted by a sexually abusive encounter with his priest 21 years ago.

"The way they dealt with it in the past -- they considered people (who) got hurt a liability and an embarrassment, but not the perverts," he said. "And there's all kinds of places they send perverts to get help; there's no place for the victims."

But Kodger now believes that the church is doing the right thing for victims of sexual abuse. So instead of filing lawsuits, he is turning the other cheek to help other victims.

Video

	Victim Reacts

On Friday, he sat down with Pilla looking for assurances that the diocese will never again turn its back on children abused by priests.

"There were mistakes in the past," Kodger said. "Bishop Pilla apologized, and he realizes there were mistakes. I (don't want) all these mistakes to happen anymore -- they've got to stop. I'm satisfied in this diocese that's what will happen."

Past victims like Kodger and the rest of the world will watch to see what policy the bishops will come up with to deal with abusive priests. What must the bishops do to restore faith? NewsChannel5 asked veteran public relations agent Mike Rogers what he would advise if asked by the church.

"Don't wait for the media to call you -- you call them," Rogers said. "Don't react. Take the lead in the story. Cover-ups haven't worked since Watergate. It's the cover-up that's hurt them."

The bishops' meetings in Dallas start Wednesday. Whatever policy they recommend will be sent to the Vatican.

Previous Stories:

May 30, 2002: Bishop Establishes Zero-Tolerance Sex-Abuse Policy
May 6, 2002: Bishop Apologizes For Handling Of Sex Scandal
April 10, 2002: Lawyer Says Bishop's Words Point To Cover-Up
April 3, 2002: Bishop Pilla Offers To Resign His Post
March 27, 2002: Bishop Pilla 'Angry' Over Sex Allegations Against Priests
March 26, 2002: Local Commission Will Investigate Abuse By Priests