How mentally ill man's sex abuse suit unfolded

Monday, September 22, 2008

(09-21) 17:33 PDT -- The Greek Orthodox Diocese and the Rev. Michael Rymer deny a mentally ill parishioner's claims that Rymer sexually abused him during a long-running relationship that continued while church officials failed to take appropriate action. But court records describe a series of events leading to the church's and Rymer's agreement to confidentially settle the parishioner's allegations of sex abuse:

1987: After a car wreck, the man becomes addicted to painkillers and alcohol, has a psychotic breakdown, and is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

1989: The man meets Rymer and asks for spiritual help. Days later, Rymer invites him home to dinner and has sex with him, beginning a tempestuous relationship. The priest does not mention he may be HIV-positive.

1989: Later that year, Rymer is diagnosed as being HIV-positive and only then does he tell the man he is at risk of infection.

1989: Rymer tells the Rev. Sergios Black that he is gay and has HIV, according to Rymer's testimony. Black later denies this.

1999: The Rev. Michael Pappas learns Rymer has AIDS and is living with the man in Stockton. Although Pappas believes Rymer and the man are having sex in violation of church rules, he does not pursue the matter, he testifies, because "I didn't think it was my business."
Late 1990s: Metropolitan Gerasimos, now the church's top West Coast official, hears that Rymer has HIV and concludes he is a homosexual. Gerasimos does not tell other church authorities his suspicions, testifying Rymer "was not a subject of my immediate interest."

2000: Rymer tells the Rev. Meletios Webber he is having sex with the man. Rymer later testifies that Webber "basically discouraged me from doing it." Webber did not return a phone call seeking comment.

2003: The man makes a formal complaint to Pappas, who reports it to church superiors. They suspend Rymer, but do not revoke his title of priest or order no contact with the man.

2004: Rymer has sex with the man and persuades him to retract his complaint, according to the man's testimony.

2005: The man reinstates his complaint, and the church's committee on clergy discipline holds a hearing where Rymer admits having had sex with him.

May 2006: The man sues Rymer and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco for sex abuse and negligence. Rymer and the church deny his charges.

December 2006: The church defrocks Rymer and returns him to lay status.

Sept. 18, 2008: San Francisco Superior Court Commissioner Frank Drago approves a confidential settlement of the man's lawsuit at a closed hearing.

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