Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse of Natives

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Brian Malone

Story Created: Jan 16, 2009 at 11:43 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jan 16, 2009 at 11:43 AM AKDT

Dozens of Alaska Natives have joined forces and filed a lawsuit accusing the president of Seattle University of trying to cover up sexual abuse crimes.
In all 43 alledged victims have filed suit saying Stephen Sundborg knowingly sent sex offenders, or what they call predator priests to remote Alaska villages because it was believed that they had little access to law enforcement and would not report the crimes.
The suit alleges the victims lived in Nulato, Hooper Bay, Stebbins, Chevak, Mountain Village, Nunam Iqua, and Saint Michael.
The suits are against the Jesuit Order
Sundborg served as head of the order in the Northwest from about 1990 to 1996. He has denied any involvement.
The lawsuit was filed in Alaska Superior Court Bethel Judicial District.
The abuses allegedly took place from around the 1950's into the early 1990's.