A monk and the Catholic monastery he resides at in Addison Township are being sued by a woman who alleges he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over a four-year period.
Father Daniel Homan and the St. Benedict Monastery, located at 2711 E. Drahner Rd., are the defendants in a lawsuit filed in Oakland County Circuit Court in November 2009.
The Order of St. Benedict and the Archdiocese of Detroit were also named as defendants in the suit.
‘We are aware of the situation, but we can’t offer a comment at this time as there’s litigation involved,? said Joe Kohn, a spokesman for the Archdiocese.
Homan also declined to comment.
A woman, who lives in Snover, Michigan and coauthored three books with Homan, filed the suit. It’s the Leader’s policy to not identify by name victims in sexual assault cases.
She’s represented by attorney Renee Picard, whose office is located in Lapeer.
Picard indicated her client filed the suit ‘to protect other women from the same situation.?
?(My client) once had hopes that she could bring about change in the system,? she said. ‘When she learned that no meaningful change took place, she decided she had to try again.?
According to the complaint, Homan and this woman began a ‘romantic relationship? in July 2000.
However, from August 2000 until November 2004, the woman alleges Homan subjected her ‘to sexual and other assaults while acting in the capacity of spiritual adviser.?
During a Nov. 19, 2004 incident, the woman alleges that while the two were staying in a cabin collaborating on a book, Homan, ‘who appeared intoxicated,? came into her bedroom, uninvited and nude, and attempted to ‘force himself upon her sexually.?
The suit alleges there were also ‘threats of harm over several years? and ‘mental threats? made by Homan.
‘The relationship between (my client) and Father Homan was unfortunately similar to other relationships involving domestic abuse and other women who struggle to successfully end those relationships,? Picard said. ‘She did try to separate herself from him, but (there were) specific events causing (my client) to stay in the relationship.?
Picard said her client never pursued any criminal charges against Homan, but did not elaborate as to why.
In September 2005, according to the suit, Homan and the woman entered into an agreement in which he paid her $25,000 as ‘compensation for the injuries she had sustained.?
‘The agreement was a written contract signed by both (my client) and Father Homan,? Picard said. ‘Whether or not other entities or individuals authorized the contract is again a question to be addressed in the litigation.?
As part of the agreement, Homan was ‘to undergo an evaluation? by a representative from Guest House located in Rochester, Minnesota.
Guest House is a nonprofit, charitable organization dedicated to the treatment of Catholic priests, deacons, brothers, seminarians and sisters who suffer from alcoholism, other chemical dependencies and related problems.
This evaluation was to determine Homan’s ‘fitness for ministry and whether or not (he) is a threat of physical and emotional harm to individuals in his sphere of influence,? according to the lawsuit.
That ‘sphere of influence? includes the Subiaco Retreat House, located on the monastery’s grounds. This facility hosts weekend and weekday retreats for parish youth groups and high schools.
The suit states that Homan paid the woman the $25,000 per the agreement, but he never underwent the evaluation or provided a copy of the evaluation as required by the contract.
Homan allegedly told the woman he had no intention of obtaining the evaluation or abiding by the terms of the agreement.
As a result, the woman is suing for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, exemplary damages, and assault and battery.
‘The lawsuit is at the beginning stages and answers have not yet been filed by the defendants,? Picard said.
The case is before Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren.
A trial date of Oct. 25 has been set, according to the court website.