An ex-Vatican altar boy testified in a Catholic seminary abuse trial that he was sexually abused by a seminarian in a Vatican youth seminary.

The case marks the first time an accusation of abuse within Vatican walls has gone to trial, the Associated Press reports.

The victim, identified only as L.G., testified in the Vatican’s criminal courtroom that Rev. Gabrielle Martinelli would come into his bed at night and perform sexual acts on him, using violence and threats to force him into “carnal acts” of sodomy over a period of five years ending in 2012, according to the AP. A former rector was also charged with helping to conceal the alleged sexual abuse by discrediting the claims against Martinelli, who has also denied the accusations against him.

At the time of the abuse, L.G. said Martinelli was seven months older and a senior seminarian, the AP reported.

“Martinelli would slip into my bed at night,” he testified. “For me it was a very strange thing: I was young and I had never entered into the world of sexuality. At home or in my town, I had never heard of sex. I felt a sense of confusion, I didn’t understand what was happening.”

L.G. testified that while he tried to report the abuse, he didn’t provide details and now feels “guilty that I hadn’t been clearer.” Instead, he was told he was being jealous and threatened with being sent home.

L.G.’s accusations are among several involving St. Pius X seminary, where altar boys at papal Masses stay. According to the AP, the allegations surrounding the seminary first erupted in 2017 when multiple former altar boys accused Martinelli of misconduct and alleged a cover-up by other senior members.

Previous hearings in the trial saw former seminarians describe a homophobic that left some boys bullied as priest superiors offered little protection.

The trial is the latest sexual abuse stain for the Catholic church, which has seen more than 300 allegations between 2000 and 2017 alone, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University reported. Pope Francis brought together Catholic bishops from around the world to discuss abuse prevention in an unprecedented meeting in 2019, but the abuse allegations stretch back decades.

Still, while an undetermined amount of allegations have surfaced over the years, oftentimes little has been done to those responsible for the abuse due to statutes of limitations, leaving many of the accused simply forced to resign.

But some U.S. states are working to change that by opening a window for victims to file church lawsuits, or by extending the statute of limitations, including states like Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and others.

What Can You Do?

If you or a loved one were sexually abused by a Catholic priest or another church leader, it is not too late to get help.

See if you qualify to file a Catholic Church lawsuit by filling out the free form on this page. You will be connected to an experienced sexual abuse attorney who will work to get you the justice you deserve.