MIAMI, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A Miami man said he punished himself with drugs and alcohol "to deal with the pain" of being molested by a Catholic priest 30 years ago.
Dennis Montero, 43, says in a lawsuit that Neil Doherty, a former pastor, drugged and molested him, then told him his job was "to share God's love," The Miami Herald reported Thursday.
Doherty, 69, named in more than two dozen sex abuse lawsuits, is in jail awaiting trial on a charge of sexually assaulting a minor in Broward County.
"He drugged me repeatedly and raped me repeatedly. This guy is a monster," Montero said Thursday. "I ended up punishing myself with drugs and alcohol to deal with the pain."
Montero said he came forward after seeing a television news report that Doherty was accused in a separate child abuse case, the Herald said.
Montero's lawsuit alleged a pattern of sexual abuse and accused the Archdiocese of Miami of covering up allegations made against Doherty and failing to protect children.
The lawsuit seeks more than $5 million in compensation from the archdiocese.
In response to the lawsuit, the archdiocese said in a statement: "As always, the Catholic Church's concerns are for the victims and a prevailing sense of justice and healing Over these past 10 years, the archdiocese has been forthcoming and taken steps to keep children safe through training and background screenings of all its employees, volunteers, clergy and teachers."
