Man sues Archdiocese of Miami over sexual abuse by two priests

South Florida Sun-Sentinel/October 18, 2006
By Lois Solomon

A 39-year-old man sued the Archdiocese of Miami on Tuesday, saying two priests sexually abused him in the early 1980s.

One of the accused priests, the Rev. Gustavo Miyares, was prominent in the Elián González case in 2000. He organized a prayer vigil and said some saw the boy as "the new Christ."

The man, who called himself John Doe in the lawsuit, said he met the priests, Miyares and the Rev. Pedro Jove, at a summer camp at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach when he was 14. The priests gave him alcohol and forced him into sex acts, including fondling, oral sex and sodomy, which took place at the camp, the priests' rectory and a Keys condominium, according to the lawsuit.

Doe does not want to reveal his identity because he "is embarrassed and doesn't want to hurt his family," said his attorney, Jeffrey Herman.

He came forward because he was "tired of the pain and secrecy," Herman said.

Jove, 59, is no longer a priest.

Herman held a news conference Tuesday in front of Immaculate Conception Church in Hialeah, where Miyares, 59, resigned Tuesday as pastor. Miyares is no longer allowed to serve as a priest, Miami Archdiocese spokeswoman Mary Ross Agosta said.

Agosta said the archdiocese learned of the allegations Oct. 4 and immediately began discussions with Doe, including visiting him and offering him counseling.