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Mankato-Based Catholic Order Settles Nun Abuse Allegation

Associated Press
June 25, 2004

Mankato, Minn. - A California woman who was abused by a nun 50 years ago at a Catholic boarding school run by a religious order based here will receive about $120,000 in a settlement, as well as an apology from the nun.

The nun at School Sisters of Notre Dame admitted she had sexual relations with the woman when the victim was a 16-year-old student at a Colton, Wash., boarding school in the early 1950s. The order, School Sisters of Notre Dame, staffed the school.

Under the settlement reached Wednesday between Betty Davis of San Jose, Sister Ramona Schweich and the order, the order will also pay for ongoing counseling for Davis.

Davis sued Schweich, who is now 81, and School Sisters of Notre Dame last year.

Schweich admitted in sworn depositions that she had sexual contact with Davis on a couple of occasions but asserted that it wasn't abuse because Davis didn't resist her advances.

Attorneys for Schweich and the order also said the lawsuit should be dismissed because it violated the statute of limitations.

Last year, School Sisters of Notre Dame reached a settlement with another former student who had accused Schweich of sexual misconduct.

Katherine Beebe received $30,000 after reporting that she and Schweich had a sexual relationship during her senior year, one year before Davis was involved with Schweich. Schweich denied any improper conduct with Beebe.

 
 

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