A 68-year-old wisdowed mother of two has filed a 12-counts lawsuit against a Nigerian priest, Cyprian Duru the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David Zubik and St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Parish, her Ross Township Church.
Kathy Coll claimed she was raped in December 2016 by Duru who was studying at Duquesne University and assisting in her North Hills Parish.
The retired High School English teacher and Eucharistic minister who sang in the chior taught CCD classes and volunteered countless hours for her church, said that day changed her life.
"I spent 2 and a half years trying to get someone to listen to me." Coll said. "No one was listening to me so i decided it was time to say i want to make something happen here".
She alleges that the church heard complaints from others about Duru inappropriate behaviour towards older women, failed to act quickly and later neglected why Duru was removed from ministry after she reported her assault.
Coll's suit details her account of how Duru - whom she agreed to tutor in English and ocassionally transported to Pittsburgh - began taking frequent walks through her neighbourhood that fall.
On Dec 11, 2016 Coll said Duru stopped by her home on the pretense of giving her a christmas card. She said when she offered him a cold drink, he followed her to her family room, overpowered her and assaulted her as she screamed for him to stop.
Duru remains at Duquesne on a student visa although Coll underwent a rape kit exam at UPMC Passavant Hospital that showed evidence of intercourse. She said authorities said it would come down to a " he-said-she-said" case with Duru claiming it was consensual.
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