Posted at 11:07 a.m., Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Settlement reached with Kane'ohe priest
Advertiser Staff
A 44-year-old man who said he was sexually abused by a Catholic priest nearly 30 years ago has reached a settlement with the priest and the Catholic order that employed him.The agreement was announced this morning in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Bert Ayabe. Both sides were set to go to trial this week, but attorneys met yesterday and this morning to hammer out a deal.
In May 2003, Eugene Saulibio filed a lawsuit against the Rev. Joseph Bukoski III and The Fathers of The Sacred Hearts and accused Bukoski of sexually assaulting Saulibio in 1976. Saulibio also alleged that The Fathers of The Sacred Hearts disregarded knowledge of the priest's sexually inappropriate behavior and continuing to employ him.
Saulibio was 15 at the time and Bukoski was a priest at The Fathers of The Sacred Hearts in Kane'ohe.
Bukoski initially denied the allegations, but in a written statement yesterday, he acknowledged harming Saulibio and apologized to him.
Bukoski has agreed to pay Saulibio $50 a month for the next 10 years. The amount of the damages that The Fathers agreed to pay was not disclosed.
In addition to the damages, Bukoski cannot work with children as part of his job.
