Former Iowa priest admits sexual abuse of boy 50 years ago

Davenport, Iowa --

A defrocked Roman Catholic priest admitted today in Davenport that he sexually abused a boy almost 50 years ago.

James Janssen, 83, took the stand in a trial over a lawsuit filed by a man, now 56, who claims Janssen abused him as a child and that church officials kept the secret for decades.

Janssen, a longtime priest in the Davenport Diocese, was not in court Tuesday when the man testified. Janssen was ordered by Judge C.H. Pelton to be in court on today.

Janssen admitted the abuse, but said he could not recall specific incidents.

Craig Levien, an attorney representing the plaintiff, asked Janssen: ‘‘You haven’t been very holy in your life, have you?’’

‘‘God decides that,’’ Janssen replied.

Levien asked Janssen if he had abused the man who filed the lawsuit.

‘‘If he says that, I’m not contesting,’’ Janssen said.

‘‘That certainly is not a holy act, is it?’’ Levien said.

‘‘No,’’ Janssen replied.’’

Janssen, who previously denied the accusations, was removed from the priesthood by the Vatican last year.

Read the article at DesMoinesRegister.com Dated May 4, 2005

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