Ex-priest admits abusing more than a dozen boys

Thursday, September 30, 2004

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPOKANE -- A former Roman Catholic priest and key figure in the Spokane sexual abuse scandal has acknowledged in depositions he molested more than a dozen boys and was himself molested by another priest.

In depositions conducted in Seattle in July and August, Patrick O'Donnell conceded he molested boys during Boy Scout outings as well as in church rectories and other places in Spokane, northern Idaho and Seattle.

The depositions were obtained by The Spokesman-Review, which published a story in its editions yesterday.

The depositions apparently were taken by lawyers to buttress their argument that Catholic bishops were aware of O'Donnell's activities but took no steps to protect children.

O'Donnell, who now lives in the Seattle area, is a defendant in four civil lawsuits by about 25 plaintiffs who allege he sexually abused them as minors.

O'Donnell was ordained in the Spokane Diocese in 1971, but left the priesthood in 1985 and later became a psychologist in Bellevue.

In his July 7 deposition, O'Donnell said he was fondled as a seminarian by the Rev. Reinard Beaver, another Spokane Diocese priest who was removed from ministry in 1988 for abusing minors.

Beaver, 75, now lives in Steilacoom outside Tacoma and is the defendant in two abuse suits filed in Spokane County. Beaver declined to comment on O'Donnell's allegation yesterday, except to say he didn't meet O'Donnell until he was an adult.

O'Donnell and Beaver were among six priests who were named two years ago by the Spokane diocese as child abusers.

The Diocese of Spokane is a co-defendant in the O'Donnell lawsuits, which have been filed in Spokane County since 2002. Spokesmen for the diocese did not immediately return a call for comment yesterday.

O'Donnell does not face criminal charges because the statute of limitations has expired.

In his depositions, O'Donnell also acknowledged abusing some children who have never sued him. In one case, O'Donnell said he couldn't recall a victim's name.

A message left at O'Donnell's home yesterday was not immediately returned.

In his sworn depositions, O'Donnell said he molested three minors while he was a seminarian in the late 1960s. He said he talked with his spiritual advisers about one of the cases in 1968 and went to therapy for many years.

Add P-I Local headlines to