Despite a request filed with the Illinois Supreme Court by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that one of its priests sexually abused an altar boy, a civil court trial is scheduled to begin next week in St. Clair County Circuit Court.Belleville attorney Mike Weilmuenster says Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto has told attorneys for both sides to be ready to pick a jury Monday.
The lawsuit, filed in 2002, alleges James Wisniewski of Champaign was sexually molested by the Reverend Raymond Kownacki of Dupo from 1973 to 1978.
He says he was 13 when the abuse began. Kownacki was removed from ministry in 1995 by former Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory.
The lawsuit, which claims psychological damage, names the diocese and Kownacki as defendants.
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