Priest abuse a 'repressed secret' in Western Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska --

In the bleak, isolated villages along the Bering Sea, the Rev. Jim Poole, the founder of missionary radio KNOM, stood out as a different kind of spiritual leader.

People Magazine called the Jesuit "Western Alaska's Hippest DJ." The Archbishop of Anchorage called him "a dynamic priest, a man of personal discipline despite his relaxed, almost casual manner."

Now it appears that Father Poole was a little too casual - and not at all disciplined.

Lawsuits and claims filed with the church accuse Poole of kissing, fondling and simulating sex acts with native girls as young as 10. One suit alleges Poole impregnated a 14-year old, then encouraged her to have an abortion and blame her father.

In a deposition taken last year by Costa Mesa, Calif., sexual abuse litigator John Manly, Poole admitted French-kissing young girls and having them lie on top of him, according to lawyers on both sides. But he denied that his intentions were sexual or that he impregnated anyone.

So far, four Catholic priests and one brother have been accused of abuse in Western Alaska between 1965 and 1985. Although the number of accused is small, the cases are startling for the number of plaintiffs - 18 times as many, per capita, as in Orange County.

Read the article at KRT Wire dated 03/02/2005

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