Dallas Greek Orthodox priest faces more abuse claims

09:05 PM CST on Friday, November 30, 2007

From Staff Reports

Leaders of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America knew the Rev. Nicholas Katinas had been accused of child sexual abuse but let him continue for years as pastor of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in North Dallas, an amended lawsuit claims. The suit was amended this week and now includes a fourth plaintiff claiming to have been abused by Mr. Katinas.

Church officials would not comment on the specific allegations, and defense attorneys did not return phone calls.

Mr. Katinas retired from Holy Trinity – a center of the Dallas Greek community – in the summer of 2006 after leading the church for 28 years. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America soon suspended him, meaning he could no longer serve as a priest, even on a fill-in basis.

In February, an archdiocese official told the Holy Trinity congregation that there had been a complaint against Mr. Katinas for child sexual abuse at another parish and that an investigation showed he had "engaged in serious moral transgressions." The official also said he was investigating an allegation of abuse by Mr. Katinas at Holy Trinity.

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