Sundborg named defendant in alleged sexual abuse cover-up

UPDATE, 5:41 A.M. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14--Seattle University President Stephen Sundborg, S.J. has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed late Tuesday accusing him and other Jesuits of covering up the sexual abuse of 43 Native Alaskan children.

Sundborg was the provincial of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus from 1990 to 1996, during which time the complaint said his office held what is known as the "Hell Files," which may have included information on Jesuits accused of sexual abuse.

Sundborg gave a deposition more than two years ago regarding the suit, according to John Manly, a California attorney who is representing the victims. Jesuits Henry G. Hargreaves and Anton Smario have also been named as defendants, as well as Father General Adolfo Nichol, leader of the Jesuits.

"Fr. Sundborg knew about perpetrators and put them back in ministry," said Pat Wall, another attorney representing the victims.

Spectator reporters who attempted to contact Sundborg in his Arrupe residence Tuesday night were told he was unavailable.

"Fr. Stephen Sundborg has remained steadfast in the belief that all victims of clerical sexual abuse be treated with compassion and justice," said Casey Corr, director of Seattle U's strategic communications."He has not been served with the lawsuit."

Sundborg allegedly had knowledge of more than 30 Jesuit perpetrators but never made it public, according to Wall.

"They basically squelched the whole thing," Wall said.

Manly also said some of the 43 victims were abused when Sundborg was acting provincial.

The lawsuit complaint alleges that the sexual perpetrators were intentionally sent to remote villages by the Jesuit leaders because the Native Alaskan children would not have the support systems in place to report the crimes.

A November ruling in Federal Appeals Court gives the victims the right to sue the Jesuit order and provincials like Sundborg because they upheld strict policies of secrecy in sexual abuse cases, a statement from the victims' attorneys said.

Elsie Boudreau, who said she has been a victim of Jesuit priests in Alaska, has been in contact with the other victims and is advocating on their behalf. The victims were abused in Nulutao, Hooper Bay, Stebbins, Chevak, Mountain Village, Nunam Iqua and St. Michael, Alaska, according to the release.

"Had they done something, I wouldn't be here today," Boudreau said.

Four victims and Wall meet with Spectator reporters late Tuesday night. The victims said it has been a long journey to this point.

"All these years and I never talked about it. Who would understand?" said Florence Kenney, 74. Kenney said she was abused in the 1940s in Alaska.

"I wish I could take him [Sundborg] into the villages," Boudreau said, "and have him look into the eyes of so many people who have been hurt."

Calls to university lawyers and other spokespeople were not returned Tuesday night.

A press conference will be held by some of the victims and their representatives tomorrow at 10 a.m. outside the main entrance of Seattle U on the corner of 12th Avenue and East Marion Street. The press conference is not sanctioned by the university, Manly said.

UPDATE: 8:32 P.M. JAN 13--Seattle University President Stephen Sundborg, S.J. has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed late Tuesday accusing him and other Jesuits of covering up the sexual abuse of 43 Native Alaskan children.

Sundborg was the provincial of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus from 1990 to 1996, during which time the complaint said his office held what is known as the "Hell Files," which may have included information on Jesuits accused of sexual abuse.

Sundborg gave a deposition more than two years ago regarding the suit, according to John Manly, a California attorney who is representing the victims. Jesuits Henry G. Hargreaves and Anton Smario have also been named as defendants, as well as Father General Adolfo Nichol, leader of the Jesuits.

"In all fairness," Manly added, "Fr. Sundborg either did not know about the abuse, or he chose not to look at the files, which would have been extremely foolish."

Spectator reporters who attempted to contact Sundborg in his Arrupe residence late Tuesday night were told he was unavailable.

"Fr. Steven Sundborg has remained steadfast in the belief that all victims of clerical sexual abuse be treated with compassion and justice," said Casey Corr, director of Seattle U's strategic communications."He has not been served with the lawsuit."

Manly also said some of the 43 victims were abused when Sundborg was acting provincial.

The lawsuit complaint alleges that the sexual perpetrators were intentionally sent to remote villages by the Jesuit leaders because the Native Alaskan children would not have the support systems in place to report the crimes.

A November ruling in Federal Appeals Court gives the victims the right to sue the Jesuit order and provincials like Sundborg because they upheld strict policies of secrecy in sexual abuse cases, a statement from the victims' attorneys said.

Elsie Boudreau, who said she has been a victim of Jesuit priests in Alaska, has been in contact with the other victims and is advocating on their behalf. The victims were abused in Nulutao, Hooper Bay, Stebbins, Chevak, Mountain Village, Nunam Iqua and St. Michael, Alaska, according to the release.

Calls to other university lawyers and spokespeople were not returned Tuesday night.

A press conference will be held by some of the victims and their representatives tomorrow at 10 a.m. outside the main entrance of Seattle U on the corner of 12th Avenue and East Marion Street. The press conference is not sanctioned by the university, Manly said.

Keep checking back at su-spectator.com for more details. Click here to download the 78-page complaint as a PDF.