A Catholic sex abuse lawsuit has been filed against the Diocese of Phoenix and Brophy College Preparatory, alleging a priest who worked as a teacher and coach there abused a student at the school in the 1980s.

ABC 15 Arizona reports that the plaintiff, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that the Rev. James Sinnerud perpetrated the abuse when the man attended Brophy Prep in the 1980s. Sinnerud reportedly stopped teaching at the school in 1987.

“He used his position as a teacher and priest to groom [the student] and to engage in sexual acts with [the boy] on campus,” said a lawyer representing the plaintiff.

According to ABC 15, after departing Brophy Prep, Sinnerud taught at another Catholic prep school in Omaha. Sinnerud was reportedly forced to retire in 2008 due to sex abuse allegations, something the Omaha prep school confirmed in 2018.

Eight Priests at Catholic Prep School Accused of Sex Assault

A report by Jesuits West Province listed eight priests who worked at Brophy College Preparatory who had “credible claims of sexual abuse of a minor.” The accusations date to the 1950s. ABC 15 reported in 2018 that only one of the eight priests, the Rev. Eugene Colosimo, is still alive.

Sinnerud was reportedly not included on that list. ABC 15 says his current location is not known.

Brophy Prep issued a statement encouraging abuse survivors to contact the current president of the school.

“Fr. Sinnerud was employed as a teacher at Brophy four decades ago – from 1980-1987. He has not been part of our faculty since this time,” said the school’s statement. “We grieve deeply for the suffering of all victims of clerical abuse and will participate fully and transparently in efforts to advance healing and justice.”

Diocese of Phoenix Accused of Cover-Up

These are not the first sexual assault allegations faced by the Diocese of Phoenix. An area law firm released a 65-page report that included pictures and biographies of accused priests in the Diocese of Phoenix.

In 2002, as a part of an investigation by Maricopa County, the bishop acknowledged that he had moved priests who faced child sex abuse allegations.

“I was able to hold the Catholic Church somewhat accountable,” a former county attorney told ABC 15 of the 2002 investigation. “The bishop himself acknowledged that he had been transferring the priests around. But it was very, very difficult…It went all the way to Rome. It was not exactly an easy process.”

For its part, the Diocese released a statement indicating that it could not comment on the pending lawsuit or the allegations against Sinnerud.

“We pray for all those who have been harmed by childhood abuse and remain vigilant to protect the dignity of every person,” the statement says.

Catholic Church Child Sexual Abuse Scandal

Over the past decades, the Roman Catholic Church has been rocked by continuing revelations that child sexual abuse by clergy has been widespread and chronic. Survivors say they have faced systematic cover-ups by the Church, which allegedly have enabled predatory clergy to continue to have access to minors through secrecy, so-called rehabilitation, and transfers.

The plaintiff alleging abuse by Fr. Sinnerud is able to bring his case because of Arizona’s Child Victim’s Act, which extends the statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse survivors to file a lawsuit against their perpetrators as well as against the institutions that failed to protect them from abuse.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.