Man sues Denver Archdiocese over childhood sexual abuse claims

Defendants previously identified in Colorado attorney general’s investigation of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.

A 53-year-old man, Michael Stano, has filed a lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Denver and two former Catholic priests, James Moreno and Robert Whipkey, alleging extensive sexual abuse during his time at Notre Dame Catholic Parish in Denver in the late 1970s and '80s.

Michael Stano claims to have repressed these memories for decades.

Notre Dame Catholic Parish in Denver (Facebook)

Although the Colorado Supreme Court recently struck down a law allowing survivors of child sexual abuse to file lawsuits over decades-old allegations, Stano's attorneys argue that his case is exceptional due to the recent recollection of repressed abuse. Attorney Charles Mendez described this legal strategy as rare, explaining that repression is a trauma response that locks memories in a specific area of the brain.

Stano filed the lawsuit on Friday in Denver District Court.

The lawsuit accuses Moreno and Whipkey of sexual assault and battery, while the Denver Archdiocese is facing claims of negligence and fraudulent concealment. The Colorado Attorney General's Office previously identified the two priests as subjects of substantiated claims of sexual abuse, along with 47 other clergy members.

According to the lawsuit, Stano became an altar boy at Notre Dame Catholic Parish at the age of 6. The lawsuit alleges that Stano's behavior changed dramatically, leading his family to question what had happened to him. He eventually requested to attend a non-Catholic school and later left Colorado for California, feeling the need to escape from something he couldn't understand.

Stano's adulthood was marked by substance abuse, addiction problems, and what the lawsuit describes as "violent sexual behaviors."

In 2019, he returned to Colorado and began experiencing depression, anxiety, and an overwhelming urge to flee the state. It was during this time that Stano told his partner he was hiding from the church, triggering a flood of repressed memories.

Notre Dame Catholic Parish in Denver. Father Ed -- Parish Welcome Video. (Website)

The lawsuit details a series of violent and ritualistic rapes allegedly committed by multiple priests within the Denver Archdiocese, including Moreno and Whipkey. Stano claims the abuse occurred between 1979 and 1989 at various locations, including St. Thomas Seminary and Camp St. Malo. The lawsuit states that the abusers threatened to harm Stano's family if he disclosed the abuse.

James Moreno, who retired from the priesthood over a decade ago, was accused of sexually assaulting a boy over 60 times between 1978 and 1980. Robert Whipkey, on the other hand, allegedly exposed himself in front of four boys at a church camp in 1998 and later faced indecent exposure charges.

The lawsuit also accuses the Denver Archdiocese of actively concealing the widespread problem of sexual abuse within their clergy. Stano's attorney, Charles Mendez, emphasized the severity of the conduct alleged in the lawsuit, expressing hope that it will bring healing and justice to his client.

Representatives of the Denver Archdiocese, as well as Moreno and Whipkey, have not yet provided a comment on the lawsuit.