Posted on 10/12/2002 7:46:02 AM PDT by yankeedame
Saturday, October 12, 2002
Former nun files lawsuit--Accuses sisters in Covington of sexual abuse
By The Associated Press
DANVILLE, Ky. - A former nun alleges in a new lawsuit that she was sexually abused by nuns in the 1950s and '60s in northern Kentucky.
Emily Feistritzer, 61, of Washington, D.C., is a Danville native who was offered a scholarship to attend Villa Madonna Academy when she was an eighth-grader at the old SS. Peter and Paul School in Danville, according to her lawyer, Robert Treadway of Lexington.
Ms. Feistritzer named Villa Madonna Academy and St. Walburg Monastery of Benedictine Sisters of Covington, formerly known as St. Walburg Convent, as defendants in the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Boyle Circuit Court.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. It says Ms. Feistritzer has spent more than $200,000 on psychotherapy for more than 20 years.
Mr. Treadway, who has also brought a sex-abuse lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, said Ms. Feistritzer's case involves recovered memory. He said she began to recover the memories a year ago through psychotherapy.
Ms. Feistritzer, the president and founder of the National Center for Education Information, a private research group, said her case “is not unique. I don't think this is an isolated case.”
Mark Guilfoyle, a Walton lawyer who represents both defendants, said: “We have not been able to substantiate any of her claims, and we plan to contest the lawsuit.”
Ms. Feistritzer's allegations involve incidents from 1955, when she entered the academy, through roughly 1961. She left in 1971.
Ms. Feistritzer alleges that she was “repeatedly sexually molested” by a science and mathematics teacher, Sister Eugene, whose real name is Rosemary Imbus.
In 1959, during her first year at St. Walburg Convent, Ms. Feistritzer alleges, she was molested by Sister Christopher, whose real name is Marlene Bertke.
Ms. Feistritzer also alleges she was fondled by Sister Terrance. She does not remember the nun's real name, the lawsuit says.
Mr. Treadway said he thinks Ms. Imbus and Ms. Bertke are still alive, but is uncertain about Sister Terrance.
Mr. Guilfoyle said all three women left St. Walburg years ago and are no longer connected in any way with the convent or Villa Madonna Academy. Their departures were unrelated to the allegations in the lawsuit, he said.
Ms. Feistritzer further alleges that she reported Sister Terrance to the mistress of novices, Sister Martha, whose real name she does not know. No action was taken and the alleged incident was not reported to the police, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit says Ms. Feistritzer also reported Sister Terrance's alleged conduct to Sister Zachary, who is now known as Sister Rita Brink, the current prioress of St. Walburg. Sister Brink declined comment and referred questions to Mr. Guilfoyle.
Not only are you demonstrating a complete lack of knowledge on this subject, you are making a complete ass of yourself. You are attempting to impeach the facts that I presented by attacking me for posting those facts. It is you who should get a life, as you appear to be delusional.
You have no idea what you are talking about, so you spam post a whole website.
You haven't posted one iota of evidence contradicting any of the scientific articles that I posted. But you rant and rave about "posting etiquette", and claim that you are right and I am wrong. Maybe if you learned how to read you might finally understand what the articles I've posted actually say. Have you even bothered to take the time to TRY to read them?
Psst. Posting an article on a FR thread isn't considered "spamming an entire website". Relevant information is not spam, it's subject matter. People such as you were deluding themselves with the false premise that ALL reports of repressed memories are false. I've posted a significant body of information that repudiates that.
Nobody here is FORCING you to read this thread. If you don't want to engage in a meaningful debate and don't want to bother yourself with the facts, then why don't YOU take a hike, as YOU are wasting valuable bandwidth with your mindless diatribes.
Get a clue Homer Simpson, and get yourself to some real professionals. They'll tell you that the stuff you're quoting is bunk.
Your childlike mind is really coming through loud and clear here. Homer Simpson? You not only need to get a clue yourself here bud, you also need to go talk to a REAL mental health professional. They MIGHT be able to help you...
PS: If your reading comprehension was not sub-standard, you'd see that what I posted WAS a collection of information from highly respected publications and doctors.
Reports of recovered memories of sexual abuse may be true, but great caution should be exercised before acceptance in the absence of solid corroboration.
It is not saying that recovered memories are non-existant, it is saying that they should be handled cautiously..
It only reinforces my observation that any post containing more than 20 words Darksheare either skips and considers "garbage", or he simply just can't understand what all those big words mean...
Oh, so now we're just going to paint the facts as "liberal" hoping that'll alienate some "conservative" readers. You are trully a piece of work Darksheare. WHY do you want to discredit those facts so fervently? Might YOU have a stake in this personally?
I am personally very close to a woman who was abused as a child and teenager. She remembers nothing of her life prior to being 8 years old. She doesn't know if any specific abuse, sexual or otherwise, took place during that time. What she remembers is bad enough. But there's obviously SOME mechanism that can kick in and block early memories. The thing to do is examine the specifics of each one to determine its validity. False accusations and manipulation by psychologists are things that happen, just as early childhood abuse happens.
I've never looked into Roseanne Barr's allegations, so I have no idea if they are true. Whether or not they are doesn't discount the fact that there ARE many people who do recover traumatic memories later in life. There might be some that are false or mistaken, but then again there ARE some that are valid.
Why don't you go and learn Etiquette. And learn the fine art of conversation. Oh, sorry, that is beyond your small diseased mind.
Er, you really aren't too bright are you. I've posted nothing but facts, yet you continue to spam this thread with your mindless ranting. Yoo hoo, anyone home? You don't appear to realize that posting on a thread doesn't constitute posting on an entire website. In fact, you don't even appear to know what the meaning of the word spam is. As far as discussing anything rationally with YOU, I've given up on that notion a long time ago, as you are obviously incapable of anything close to rational thought.
If you really wanted to discuss things, you'd remember Etiquette and be rational and polite.
Who do you think you are, Miss Manners of Free Republic? Get lost creep.
But that's beyond you and your bias.
Repeating a lie doesn't make it true.
You appear to have significant mental problems. You accuse me of what you yourself are guilty of. You've nothing but launch ad hominiem attacks on me, have not produced one shred of evidence or facts relating to this thread, and have jumped up and down on "etiquette". Go write a letter to Ann Landers and complain to her.
If you WERE in fact simply ignoring my posts, I could care less. It is your mindless attacks that I'm getting really sick and tired of.
Why don't you go and learn Etiquette.
Why don't you go bother somebody else, otherwise I might decide to hit the abuse button.
And learn the fine art of conversation. Oh, sorry, that is beyond your small diseased mind.
You really are a sick individual. I suggest that you get some help.
One side of your mouth tells me that you consider scientific publications and research "drivel", and the other side is trying to convince people that YOUR opinion is what all the "real" experts are saying. Just WHO are these imaginary "experts" of yours? Are they the little voices in your head?
I told you, go and talk to the real pros. The guys who deal with mental problems. Like yours.
Sorry, I don't talk to imaginary people, I gather my knowledge from those who really ARE experts in the matter. If you had even half of a functional brain, you'd quickly realize that the information that I posted IS from experts and professionals in this field.
And as I said earlier, you REALLY should consider finding one who can help you out, as you appear to have some serious issues.
Not that long ago, a woman went to prison for a crime that she committed back in the 60's, where she had been involved with anti-war activities during that period.Wasn't that "anti-war" protester jailed for the peaceful activity of bombing?
Could be, although I don't find a bombing to be a "peaceful activity", do you?
I was referring to the fact that there's no statute of limitations on certain crimes. The poster that I had responded to had stated that charges of rape should be ignored because a fair amount of time had passed since the incident had occured and the statute of limitations had expired..
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