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CNN Live At Daybreak

Priest Found Guilty of Molesting Ellen Brum Two Decades Ago

Aired April 25, 2002 - 06:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Each of the child molestation stories is heartbreaking. Our Connie Chung reports on one of the most recent convictions, that of a priest found guilty last week of molesting Ellen Brum two decades ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CONNIE CHUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It happened more than 20 years ago, and yet, Ellen Brum's recollection is clear. She was the victim of Father Don Kimball, the molester.

ELLEN BRUM, SEX ABUSE VICTIM: I don't know if anybody who has ever been abused can actually move on from it. It's always there.

CHUNG: What he did, Ellen says, was take advantage of her when she was 13 years old. In the rectory of St. John's, she says Kimball disrobed, fondled and sexual molested her.

BRUM: It has very little to do with the sexual acts. It has to do with the betraying that happens around the sexual acts. It's not the sexual act that's important. It's the betrayal. It's the misuse of trust.

CHUNG: Father Don Kimball was a trusted youth minister, who worked with kids in an unconventional way, through top-40 music. He talked to them about relationships and the Bible through his books and videos.

Kimball categorically denied the molestation charges, but in a criminal trial last week, he was found guilty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury, find the defendant, Donald Wayne (ph) Kimball, guilty of violation...

CHUNG: For Ellen Brum, Kimball's conviction was a victory.

BRUM: First you were safe and small growing in a special place...

CHUNG: But she says satisfaction will only come when the church hierarchy takes action to protect those they claim they care about the most: the children.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: And our Connie Chung has been bringing us extensive coverage of the crisis in the priesthood, and you can continue to follow that crisis in the priesthood on our Web site. Get the latest developments, plus plenty of background information. It's cnn.com, AOL keyword, CNN.

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