A woman has claimed she was sexually abused more than 40 years ago by the president of the US Conference of Catholic bishops.
Bishop William Skylstad issued a statement yesterday categorically denying the accusation, saying he has not violated the vow of celibacy he took 47 years ago.
The claim was filed against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane, in Washington state by a woman who said she was under the age of 18 when Bishop Skylstad sexually abused her at St Patrick's Parish and at Gonzaga University from December 1961 to December 1964.
Bishop Skylstad (70) was a student at Gonzaga University from 1962 to 1966 and taught mathematics to students at Mater Cleri Seminary at Colbert, north of Spokane.
The diocese is one of three in the United States that filed for bankruptcy protection to deal with claims of sexual abuse by clergy.
Bishop Skylstad offered last month to settle with 75 victims for $45.7 million dollars (€38 million).
The woman's claim was filed as a result of the bankruptcy "proof of claims" process, the diocese said.Victims of clerical sexual abuse have until tomorrow to file claims.
Greg Arpin, an attorney representing the diocese, said there were a total of 135 claims as of yesterday morning, including the original 75 who would be covered by the settlement.
AP