A former
student at an all-girls Catholic high school claims she was sexually assaulted
more than a decade ago by a nun who taught morals and religion and was in charge
of recruiting young women into the sisterhood.
Landa Mauriello-Vernon, now living in Rhode Island, says the nun, Sister Linda
Cusano, repeatedly forced her into a vacant office in a secluded wing of the
school, wrestled her to the floor and threw her body on top of hers, telling
her to "submit herself to God," and "join me in the
convent."
The allegations were contained in a lawsuit Mauriello-Vernon filed against
Cusano and Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden on Friday in New Haven Superior
Court. School principal Ritamary Schulz did not return repeated calls for
comment and the school's lawyer, Stephen Fogerty, could not be reached.
Mauriello's parents decided to send both of their daughters to Sacred Heart so
they would get a "solid education in a safe environment," said
Mauriello-Vernon's lawyer, Patricia Cofrancesco. They grew alarmed when their
oldest daughter, Landa, quit the volleyball team and choral group senior year,
between 1991 and 1992, and started talking about abandoning her plans for
college.
It was during that period of time, the suit says, that Cusano had repeated
sexual contact with Landa.
Before the assaults, the student had talked about studying music therapy, to
use her talent as a vocalist to help the disabled.
Instead, she announced she was entering the convent and asked her parents to
sign a form giving her permission. They refused. They worried she was spending
too much time with Cusano, 42, who taught religion, but also worked as a
vocation director and was known privately, among students, as "the
recruiter."
The Mauriellos met with school officials several times to discuss their
concerns, but their complaints were brushed off, Cofrancesco said. If their
suspicions had been thoroughly investigated, the abuse might have been uncovered
sooner, she said. Cofrancesco said officials sent Cusano to a treatment center
last fall, when the allegations came to light, but a nun who answered the phone
at the convent Friday declined to confirm Cusano's whereabouts.
After graduating, Mauriello-Vernon attended college at Eastern Connecticut
State University and Southern Connecticut State University. But she never
finished her degree and until a year ago, she kept the abuse secret, even from
her parents. She has grappled with depression and feelings of self-hatred that
have caused her to systematically cut herself, the lawsuit says.
Sacred Heart is run by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious
order founded in Italy by Mother Clelia Merloni.
The order established a mission in New Haven in 1906 and later moved its
provincial house, or American headquarters, from New Haven to Mount Sacred
Heart in Hamden.
The nuns built a private girls' academy on the site at which nearly 500
students are currently enrolled. Tuition is $7,500 a year.
The Archdiocese of Hartford loosely oversees the school, but has little
involvement in its day-to-day operations. A diocese spokesman, the Rev. John
Gatzak, said he had no knowledge of Mauriello-Vernon's complaint.
Mauriello-Vernon is now married and living in Rhode Island. She has a
3-year-old daughter and is pregnant with a second child.
"She felt by going public she could prevent this from happening
again," said Cofrancesco. "She wants those responsible for this to be
held accountable. It dramatically altered the course of her life."