A deeply disturbing lawsuit has been filed in Florida, alleging a Catholic priest systematically sexually abused an altar boy for years under the grotesque pretence that the acts were sanctified by God.
The legal action targets Father George Zina and the Diocese of St. Petersburg, accusing them of enabling a horrific cycle of abuse that began when the victim was just 12 years old. The plaintiff, now an adult, states the abuse started in 2016 and continued for several years.
The suit contains harrowing details of manipulation, alleging that Fr. Zina used his position of spiritual authority to coerce the child. He is accused of telling the boy that the sexual abuse was 'special' and had been 'approved by God', warping the child's faith and sense of reality to facilitate the crimes.
This case is not the first time Fr. Zina has faced such allegations. The lawsuit points to a prior accusation from 2001, suggesting the Diocese was aware of potential predatory behaviour but failed to take adequate action to protect its parishioners.
The plaintiff's legal team argues the Diocese is guilty of gross negligence, claiming it ignored red flags and placed children in danger by allowing Fr. Zina to remain in ministry with unrestricted access to minors.
This lawsuit adds to the long and painful history of sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church, raising urgent questions about accountability, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable children within religious institutions.
