A Denver man has filed a lawsuit against the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, alleging he was sexually abused as a teenager by a former priest during the 1990s. 

The man, only identified as John HA Doe, alleges he was sexually abused by the Rev. Jerry McKenzie for several years beginning in 1995. The man was 16 when the assaults began, according to the complaint. 

“This isn’t just about him. It’s about everyone else who has been hurt by Rev. McKenzie,” said Jessica Arbour, the plaintiff’s attorney, during a Friday morning press conference. 

Arbour said the man decided to file the lawsuit after he learned of additional victims. This happened when he began sharing his story with his inner circle.

The man later reported his allegations to the diocese, who told him that McKenzie “was the subject of multiple allegations and he was removed and ultimately forced to resign from the ministry as a result of that,” Arbour said

The diocese confirmed in an email statement to The Denver Gazette that allegations of sexual misconduct led to McKenzie’s resignation in 2000.

According to the complaint, the abuse occurred at various places including St. Michael and All Angels Church, Camp Ilium and at a cabin near Nederland where McKenzie hosted spiritual development events for teenagers.

In each instance, McKenzie allegedly provided the man and his friends alcohol and drugs such as marijuana “and encouraged them to become intoxicated and making them more vulnerable to abuse,” Arbour said. 

The man alleges McKenzie performed several type of sexual misconduct such as over the clothes fondling, stimulation and sexual gratification, Arbour said. 

As of Friday morning, the number of possible other victims was not known.

Arbour said the lawsuit is believe to be the first filed against the Episcopal Diocese under a new Colorado law that allows survivors of child abuse an extended period of time to file lawsuits against the entities responsible.

“I filed this lawsuit because the Diocese needs to be held accountable for what happened to me, and also for the others that McKenzie wronged during the course of his career as a trusted and revered religious figure,” the alleged victim said in a statement. “The adults who should have been protecting all of us failed us, and justice needs to be served for us all.”

The Denver Gazette reached out to the diocese and received this statement:

The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado received notice that a complaint was filed by a former member of the church, alleging misconduct by a former priest, Jerry McKenzie. These events appeared to have occurred in the mid-1990s. Mr. McKenzie was forced to resign his ministry many years ago, in 2000, following allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations of the plaintiff in this case were not brought forward to the diocese at that time, and the diocese only learned of these allegations relatively recently.

The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado has taken measures to investigate each allegation of abuse against its clergy. In our tradition and expression of Christianity, we recognize that clergy members have a sacred position of trust. Reports of clergy misconduct and abuse are adjudicated according to the Episcopal Church’s Title IV process, and the diocese cooperates fully with all law enforcement investigations of clergy abuse.

It remains our view that by virtue of Baptism, all members of the Church are called to holiness of life and accountability to one another. The Church and each Diocese supports their members in their life in Christ and seek to resolve conflicts by promoting healing, repentance, forgiveness, restitution, justice, amendment of life, and reconciliation among all involved or affected. The Episcopal Church’s Title IV process applies to Members of the Clergy, who have by their vows at ordination accepted additional responsibilities and accountability for doctrine, discipline, worship, and obedience. For many years, the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado has required all clergy and lay leaders in our diocese to undergo safe church training using a churchwide curriculum that includes the Episcopal Church’s model policies to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults.

Due to the personal nature of these allegations, and the fact a lawsuit is now filed by an individual who wishes to remain anonymous, we cannot comment further. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those individuals who have been affected by the harm caused by any clergy member who has betrayed that trust to the religious community.

The allegations come after years of intense scrutiny into sexual abuse by clergy of other Christian denominations, in Colorado and beyond. Investigations in other states, particularly into the Catholic Church, have been launched by attorneys general and have included grand jury investigations.

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office released a report in 2019 listing 43 priests who’d been implicated in the abuse of 166 children since 1950. A supplemental report was released in late 2020 naming another nine priests. 

Gazette staff writer Seth Klamann contributed to this report.