Lawsuit claims well-known New Orleans priest raped, beat 10-year-old during church retreat Share Updated: 3:29 PM CST Jan 28, 2021 WDSU Digital Team Share Updated: 3:29 PM CST Jan 28, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript GINA: A WELL-KNOWN CHURCH LEADER HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE MINISTRY AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF THE RAPE A BEATING OF A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY. SULA: FATHER JOHN ASARE-DANKWAH IS PASTOR OF SAINT PETER CLAVER CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE ALLEGED ABUSE TOOK PLACE WHILE HE WAS WITH BLESSED TRINITY CHURCH IN BROADMOOR, THAT’S WHERE CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER GREG LAROSE JOINS US TONIGHT. GREG: A LAWSUIT IS FILED WEDNESDAY THAT SAYS ASARE LED ELEVEN STUDENTS ON A RELIGIOUS RETREAT TO MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA IN 2008. IT ALLEGES THE PRIEST FIRST APPROACHED THE BOY WHEN HEARING HIS CONFESSION. WE SHOULD WARN YOU THAT SOME OF THE DETAILS WE’RE ABOUT TO SHARE ARE GRAPHIC. THE COURT COMPLAINT SAYS ASARE ASKED THE BOY IF HE LOVED HIM AND LOVE TO GOD. THE PRIEST THEN REPORTEDLY UNZIPPED HIS PANTS AND EXPOSED HIMSELF TO THE 10-YEAR-OLD. THE BOY RESISTED THE PRIEST WHO EVENTUALLY FORCED HIM TO UNDRESS AND THEN RAPED HIM, ALL DURING THE ACT OF PENANCE, ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT. >> FOR THIS TO OCCUR DURING THAT ACT, IT IS HORRIFIC. IT IS DISGUSTING TO BE QUITE HONEST. GREG: ATTORNEY DESIREE CHARBONNET REPRESENTS THE ALLEGED VICTIM, WHO’S NOW 22. THE MORNING AFTER HIS ALLEGED RAPE, ASARE BEAT THE BOY AND ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A HOMOSEXUAL, THE LAWSUIT SAYS. >> HE HAS GONE THROUGH DEPRESSION. HE’S GONE THROUGH NIGHTMARES, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. JUST, IT HAS RUINED HIS LIFE GREG: THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS IS ALSO A DEFENDANT IN THE LAWSUIT. IT ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT ASARE WAS REMOVED FROM THE MINISTRY PENDING THE OUTCOME OF AN INVESTIGATION. KEVIN BOURGEOIS IS A SURVIVOR OF CLERGY ABUSE WHO HAS PRESSED THE ARCHDIOCESE TO COOPERATE WITH INVESTIGATIONS. HE SAYS ARCHBISHOP GREGORY AYMOND TOLD HIM TONIGHT HE CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTE RECEIVING THE LAWSUIT. KEVIN: THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THIS GUY IS BRAVE, HE’S COURAGEOUS. HE’S NOT WAITING. THE AVERAGE PERSON HOLDS ON TO THIS SECRET UNTIL THE AVERAGE AGE OF 52. GREG: THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING VICTIMS UNDER 16 IN -- 16 AND YOUNGER AND ALABAMA, WHERE ANY CHARGES AGAINST THE PRIEST WOULD HAVE TO BE FILED. THE TIMING OF THE LAWSUIT IS ALSO NOTABLE. THERE IS A MARCH 1 DEADLINE FOR ANYONE SEEKING DAMAGES FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OVER CLERGY ABUSE. REPORTING FROM BROADMOOR, I’M GREG LAROSE’S, WDSU NEWS. GI