Two more victims have come forward as news spreads of the recent $50 million settlement in the rural Alaska clergy sex abuse scandal.The men spoke out Monday night and one of them traveled to Portland, Ore. Tuesday for a second press conference.
Both say the settlement and, more importantly, acknowledgement of the abuse is long overdue.
James Niksik spoke Tuesday at a press conference coordinated by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP.
Niksik says he trusted the church. He also said that as a child, he thought being sexually abused by Deacon Joseph Lundowski was normal.
"We wholeheartedly, as a people, believed in the Catholic Church," Niksik said. "We put all our trust in the people who taught us religion."
Niksik even told his parents about the abuse. He claims his father beat him for making such accusations.
He is one of nearly 60 men who claim Lundowski molested him, in what's become the largest case of clergy sex abuse in Alaska history.
Peter Kobuk is also a victim of Lundowski and appeared before the Anchorage media last night with Niksik.
"It changed my life quite a bit and I still have problems," Kobuk said.
Kobuk first disclosed the abuse in November 2004 when he took Channel 2 News to the St. Michael church where the abuse took place.
He says no one, not even church leaders, believed him.
Kobuk says his faith remains steadfast, but he's upset with leaders who claim no one was hurt by Lundowski.
Kobuk and Niksik are two of 110 victims who will share in the settlement.
Twelve priests and three volunteers stand accused in the lawsuits.
John Manley, a lead attorney for the victims, spoke at today's Portland press conference.
"We believe this settlement will begin to expose is the horrific abuse of Native Americans and Native Alaskans at the hands various orders, primarily the Jesuits, throughout the United States," he said.
Kobuk and Niksik are still trying to come to terms with their abuse and remain angry that the Catholic Diocese in Fairbanks has not negotiated a settlement.
For now, the demons hidden in this church continue to haunt them.
Kobuk is receiving counseling paid for by the Catholic Diocese. He flies to Anchorage once a week for a 45-minute session.
Niksik says that is impossible for him with his work schedule.
A mediator is going to look at each case and based on the severity of the case will determine how much each person gets.
The men last night said it was still sinking in that a settlement had been reached but Kobuk did talk about buying a much needed ATV and snowmachine for his subsistence hunts.
He also mentioned a possible trip to Disneyland.
He has raised his 9 children as a single parent.
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