Lawsuit accuses priest of sex abuse

A late priest from Waterbury sexually abused a 10year-old altar boy before morning Mass in 1980, a lawsuit filed this week in Waterbury Superior Court alleges.

The 28-page lawsuit alleges that the Rev. Walter Vichas sexually abused Kevin DiStasio while the boy was putting on his vestments for a morning mass at the Blessed Sacrament Church on Robbins Street. DiStasio is named in the lawsuit and in a press release disseminated by a law firm representing him.

Vichas died in 2008 at age 83. He has never been previously accused of sexual abuse. The lawsuit names the Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation as the lead defendant.

“Father Vichas is not among the more frequently accused priest in this diocese,” New Haven attorney Thomas McNamara said.

McNamara said anyone who may have information on Vichas can contact his office.

The lawsuit alleges that DiStasio and his family were parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Church. DiStasio became an altar boy there in either 1979 or 1980. Vichas was a priest at Blessed Sacrament from 1971 to 2001.

The suit alleges that in 1980, prior to the early morning Mass, Vichas assaulted DiStasio.

The complaint alleges the Archdiocese of Hartford and in particular then-Bishop John Whealon were negligent and reckless in not adequately supervising or training Vichas. Hartford Diocese spokeswoman Maria Zone said Thursday the diocese had no comment.

“It has been the longstanding policy of the Archdiocese of Hartford not to comment on pending litigation,” Zone said.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages that includes money for psychological damages suffered by DiStasio.