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Tennessee abuse case settled after allegations ‘one of the most respected priests’ exploited adult converting to Catholicism

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / The Most Rev. Richard Stika, Bishop of Knoxville, speaks during the First Session of the Tribunal of the Inquiry That Will Examine the Life, Virtues, Offering of Life, Reputation of Holiness, and Signs of Intercessory Power of the Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / The Most Rev. Richard Stika, Bishop of Knoxville, speaks during the First Session of the Tribunal of the Inquiry That Will Examine the Life, Virtues, Offering of Life, Reputation of Holiness, and Signs of Intercessory Power of the Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / The Most Rev. Richard Stika, Bishop of Knoxville, speaks during the First Session of the Tribunal of the Inquiry That Will Examine the Life, Virtues, Offering of Life, Reputation of Holiness, and Signs of Intercessory Power of the Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

By Wyatt Massey 10 min read

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville has settled an abuse lawsuit against “one of the most respected priests in the diocese” who was accused of sexually exploiting an adult woman he converted to the Catholic faith in 2000.

In the lawsuit, Celeste Arnone accused the Rev. Michael Sweeney of sexual assault and exploitation, severe psychological distress, defamation, the loss of faith in God and the loss of her marriage. She also accused the diocese of negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress for its handling of her allegations after they were first reported.

“I hope my case will help survivors to, first of all, realize that this is not your fault, even if you might think it is, and it may take years to realize what actually did happen to you,” Arnone said in a statement to the Times Free Press.

The news comes as Pope Francis has moved to reform church law to recognize adults can be victims of sexual abuse from clergy or other church authorities where there is a power imbalance. And starting this month, Tennessee law will explicitly criminalize sexual contact between a person and a member of the clergy, as well as health care professionals, during the course of treatment or therapy because the victim is incapable of consent.

The diocese, which includes Catholic churches in Southeast Tennessee, told the Times Free Press it would not offer specific comment on the settlement related to an allegation from something that happened more than 20 years ago.