Notre Dame priest accused of sexual abuse in 1983

A Notre Dame professor and priest is a defendant in a lawsuit filed in San Antonio, Texas alleging he and another priest sexually abused a minor in the 1980s.

The priests named in the suit are Father Jesus Armando Dominguez and Father Virgilio Elizondo.

Notre Dame confirmed Elizondo is on the faculty, according to a statement by University Spokesman Dennis K. Brown..

We can confirm that Father Elizondo is on the faculty, but we have just learned of the allegation. We are reserving further comment until we examine the plaintiff's San Antonio filing and make further inquiries.

The lawsuit says while living in an orphanage near the Assumption Seminary of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Father Dominguez, then still a student at seminary, began acting as a father figure to the victim and took him out to eat and to movies.

The victim alleges after these outings, Father Dominguez would take him back to the dormitory quarters and fondle him.

The victim alleges Dominguez's abuse escalated and included oral sex. The victim said this happened for two years, approximately two to three times a week.

When the victim would question Dominguez, he allegedly faked an heart attack.

Dominguez also allegedly threatened to kill the victim, then himself.

Two years later, when Dominguez left San Antonio, the victim went to Archbishop Patrick Flores about the alleged abuse.

The victim alleges Flores dismissed his concerns.

In 1983, the victim  spoke with Father Virgilio Elizondo about the alleged abuse and says Elizondo then began fondling the victim and kissed him.

The victim says he fought off Elizondo and fled from his vehicle.

The victim says he did not reach out to the Roman Catholic Church for many years after that because of the alleged abuse.

In the lawsuit, the victim alleges the abuse has led him to be unable to maintain his mental status to keep a job, close relationships and has been unable to parent his children.

The victim is suing for damages including diminished wage earning capacity, medical and counseling expenses, exemplary damages as well as punitive damages.

Click here to read the lawsuit