TERRE HAUTE — A former Catholic priest who served parishes in Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Tell City has admitted to molesting at least five boys and playing sex games with others, says an attorney who has filed lawsuits on behalf of several victims.
The former priest, Harry Monroe, admitted to the sex acts in a pre-trial deposition filed as part of a case that goes to court Monday, the attorney said. Monroe is the subject of 13 sexual abuse lawsuits that also name the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a co-defendant.
“It’s a pretty strong deposition,” said Pat Noaker, a Minnesota attorney who filed the lawsuits.
Ordained in 1974, Monroe served in five Indiana Catholic parishes until his priestly faculties were revoked in 1984 because of allegations of sexual misconduct.
Noaker says he can prove the Archdiocese knew Monroe was a threat to kids yet allowed him to be reassigned to other parishes, including St. Patrick’s in Terre Haute.
In a hearing scheduled for Monday, the Archdiocese is requesting to have one of the lawsuits dismissed; it is arguing that the statute of limitations has expired.
Noaker said it’s “disappointing” that the Archdiocese is trying to get a lawsuit thrown out on a technicality.
“[Monroe] is an admitted child molester. He admits to molesting kids while functioning as a priest,” Noaker said. “It’s time for [the Archdiocese] to bench their lawyers and instead get around to helping young men who’ve been hurt.”
Monroe came to St. Patrick’s Church in Terre Haute in 1979 after assignments in three Indianapolis parishes. He stayed in Terre Haute two years and served as the youth minister. After sex abuse allegations by several parishioners, Monroe was placed on leave for a year in mid-1981. He served what would be his final year as a priest in Perry County, serving three small parishes.
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis had no comment on the litigation, said Greg Otolski, Archdiocese spokesman. “I haven’t seen the deposition so I couldn’t comment on it.”
The Archdiocese has been helping people who say they’ve been victims of sexual abuse, he said.
“We ask those who have been abused or know of abuse to contact us,” Otolski said. “We pay for counseling and other kinds of help … We don’t try to determine much in the way of guilt or innocence. If someone needs help, we’ve been trying to help. We’ve been doing that for a long time.”
As far as the Archdiocese trying to get a lawsuit dismissed on a technicality, Otolski said, “It’s Indiana law. I don’t think you can call the law a technicality. It will be up to a judge to decide that.”
Jay Mercer, attorney for the Archdiocese, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Terre Haute resident Missi Limcaco, the mother of one of Monroe’s alleged victims, read an article about Monroe’s admissions, although she hadn’t seen the deposition.
“It’s a relief that at least he [Monroe] admitted it because that validates what all the victims have said,” she said. “I think that’s important … I would hope that would help in the healing of victims at this point.”
Monroe said in the deposition that he has nothing to lose by talking about what happened.
In the deposition, he seems to attribute his behavior to alcohol, drugs and immaturity, but Limcaco maintains Monroe’s actions were premeditated.
“He did this in a very adult manner and in a predatory manner,” she said.
Based on what she’s read, she’s not sure he is taking full responsibility for his actions and the devastation he caused to victims, their families and friends.
She believes he should write to his victims and apologize.
Limcaco said she’d also like to see “more compassion for victims on the part of the church. It’s such a struggle for them to have to deal with being put in this position of having to defend themselves. It’s a shame it had to get to this point.”
In 2005, she and her husband went public with their story about their late son Danny, who they allege was molested by Monroe when he was a priest and youth minister at St. Patrick’s. Danny died on March 10, 1983 in a tool shed behind the family’s Woodridge home; he had died from inhaling carbon monoxide from a running lawn mower.
In the deposition, Monroe states: “My whole life, I never wanted to hurt anybody. I’ve never had a desire in my life to hurt a single soul. And my behavior, I’m sure, has disappointed - I mean my mother died of grief because of all this stuff. You know, I’m responsible for that. So I’m ... if I could change my life and go back and change it, I would.”
He later says in the deposition that “everybody here is covering somebody else’s rear end and I’m covering mine. I’m not stupid enough not to know that. So I don’t pretend that anybody here is my friend or that … anybody here really cares about me one way or the other. If I drop dead right now, it would probably be — benefit everyone. But I want to help as much as I can because I want to move through this.”
He also said in the deposition that he did not have legal counsel because he could no longer afford one.
Monroe, who lives in Tennessee, could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
submitted photo
Discussion
Ex-Terre Haute priest admits to molesting children
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- UPDATE: Marshall, Ill., school bus driver involved in accident dies; cause appears to be cardiac-related
-
Terre Haute road name game
What used to be called U.S. 40 from the Wabash River west through West Terre Haute to Interstate 70 needs to be renamed and, probably, get new street addresses, a Vigo County planner recommends.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Latest Jason Wu Collection Shows Chinese Roots
ShowBiz Minute: Madonna, Beresford-Redman, Pawsc
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Raw Video: Rough Seas Stop Oil Removal
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
The Pits: Israelis Spit Olives for Glory
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
Girl rescued after avalanche buries village in Kosovo
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Lusetich: AT&T Rd. 3 recap
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Absolute Lin-sanity
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
Funeral to be held for Powell boys
Sandusky on having to stay inside and people turning on him
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Woolly Mammoth Caught on Camera?
Did JLo 'Assault' Marc Anthony on Camera?
Christie Brinkley's Runway Slip
