Colorado Man Alleges Sexual Abuse By Priest
Priest In Question Has Disappeared
POSTED: 3:17 p.m. MDT April 14, 2002
UPDATED: 7:18 a.m. MDT April 15, 2002
DENVER -- A military police officer at Peterson Air Force Base is suing a Boston priest for alleged abuse that took place years ago.
Airman 1st Class Paul Busa has filed a lawsuit against Reverend Paul Shanley, whom Busa claims molested him in Boston during the 1980s, when Busa was 6 to 9 years old.
"When I was around 9 and 10 it was more rubbing of the back and the shoulders, you know, just inappropriately touching me, but it was more on the outside of my clothes. From about 6 to 8 or 9 it was everything else," Busa said.
Busa is leaving the Air Force, saying that the mental and physical breakdowns he's suffered make it impossible to stay in the service as a military police officer.
Busa's suit alleges that the Roman Catholic priest abused him while he was a member of the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Newton, Mass..
"This is something I need to face," Busa said Saturday. "If I'm not talking about it, I'm hiding from it," he told The Gazette.
Others also say they were victims of abuse by Shanley, who is known to have advocated sex between men and boys as early as 1979 and bought a hotel that catered to gays.
Shanley has disappeared.
On Monday, Busa, 24, will sign a few papers and say goodbye to Peterson Air Force Base.
Busa said that when he was 6, the Shanley began calling him out of catechism class for what the priest called "special duties" like putting pamphlets in pews.
The priest wanted him alone, Busa said. He undid Busa's pants and touched him, Busa said. Other times, he molested Busa in the bathroom, rectory or confessional, Busa said.
Only during the past three months has Busa remembered these things. The disclosure in February that a childhood friend of Busa's had accused Shanley of pedophilia triggered something in Busa's mind, he said.
Busa's memories of the past have emerged gradually, he said. When he first heard Feb. 1 that Shanley had been implicated in pedophilia, he said he was surprised and remembered the priest as "such a nice guy." He said the memories started coming in the next few days.
He remembered the abuse at the church. He said he remembers being naked, with only a hall light on, and Shanley standing there "as if he were God."
Busa alleges in his lawsuit that Shanley molested him over three years, until he was 9. He said he thinks he was singled out as vulnerable because his parents had divorced.
Busa said he remembers Shanley warning him at the time against talking to anyone, saying no one would believe him.
On Feb. 11, Busa broke down and cried six hours straight. The Air Force took away his gun, the Gazette reported. The next day, he met with a military psychiatrist.
Busa said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and an anxiety disorder. The doctor explained how Busa may have repressed his memories.
"In the beginning, I questioned myself a lot," Busa said. "I thought, 'Was I making this up?' The way my body was reacting, I knew it had happened. I had no control over my body. Christ, I'm anxious all the time."
In a Jan. 10 performance review, Busa earned the highest ranking, "exceptional," in eight of nine categories. He was lauded for his positive attitude and eagerness to learn.
Busa was credited for volunteering 200 hours to help coach the Falcon High School baseball team.
The review concluded by calling Busa "an excellent airman who is rapidly growing into one of the future leaders of his unit and the Air Force."
Airman 1st Class Paul Busa has filed a lawsuit against Reverend Paul Shanley, whom Busa claims molested him in Boston during the 1980s, when Busa was 6 to 9 years old.
"When I was around 9 and 10 it was more rubbing of the back and the shoulders, you know, just inappropriately touching me, but it was more on the outside of my clothes. From about 6 to 8 or 9 it was everything else," Busa said.
Busa is leaving the Air Force, saying that the mental and physical breakdowns he's suffered make it impossible to stay in the service as a military police officer.
Busa's suit alleges that the Roman Catholic priest abused him while he was a member of the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Newton, Mass..
"This is something I need to face," Busa said Saturday. "If I'm not talking about it, I'm hiding from it," he told The Gazette.
Others also say they were victims of abuse by Shanley, who is known to have advocated sex between men and boys as early as 1979 and bought a hotel that catered to gays.
Shanley has disappeared.
On Monday, Busa, 24, will sign a few papers and say goodbye to Peterson Air Force Base.
Busa said that when he was 6, the Shanley began calling him out of catechism class for what the priest called "special duties" like putting pamphlets in pews.
The priest wanted him alone, Busa said. He undid Busa's pants and touched him, Busa said. Other times, he molested Busa in the bathroom, rectory or confessional, Busa said.
Only during the past three months has Busa remembered these things. The disclosure in February that a childhood friend of Busa's had accused Shanley of pedophilia triggered something in Busa's mind, he said.
Busa's memories of the past have emerged gradually, he said. When he first heard Feb. 1 that Shanley had been implicated in pedophilia, he said he was surprised and remembered the priest as "such a nice guy." He said the memories started coming in the next few days.
He remembered the abuse at the church. He said he remembers being naked, with only a hall light on, and Shanley standing there "as if he were God."
Busa alleges in his lawsuit that Shanley molested him over three years, until he was 9. He said he thinks he was singled out as vulnerable because his parents had divorced.
Busa said he remembers Shanley warning him at the time against talking to anyone, saying no one would believe him.
On Feb. 11, Busa broke down and cried six hours straight. The Air Force took away his gun, the Gazette reported. The next day, he met with a military psychiatrist.
Busa said he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and an anxiety disorder. The doctor explained how Busa may have repressed his memories.
"In the beginning, I questioned myself a lot," Busa said. "I thought, 'Was I making this up?' The way my body was reacting, I knew it had happened. I had no control over my body. Christ, I'm anxious all the time."
In a Jan. 10 performance review, Busa earned the highest ranking, "exceptional," in eight of nine categories. He was lauded for his positive attitude and eagerness to learn.
Busa was credited for volunteering 200 hours to help coach the Falcon High School baseball team.
The review concluded by calling Busa "an excellent airman who is rapidly growing into one of the future leaders of his unit and the Air Force."
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
