Father Charles Kanu
Diocese of Little Rock
Ordained: 1992
Assignment History:
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish (Marché, AR)
- St. Peter the Fisherman (Mountain Home, AR)
- Diocese of Umuahia in Nigeria
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Father Charles Kanu:
Fr. Charles Kanu was a Nigerian priest who worked in the Diocese of Little Rock since 2005. Kanu has served at various parishes in Helena, Marianna, Mountain Home, Tontitown, and Huntsville, Arkansas.
In 2011, credible allegations of professional misconduct were lodged against Kanu. According to media reports, he was suspended and removed from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Marche, Arkansas, pending a complete investigation. Kanu is one of the accused priests listed for sexually abusing adults.
Kanu reportedly assaulted a counselee at St. Peter the Fisherman Parish in Mountain Home, Arkansas, for 18 months, using "sensitive" information about her, which he learned in both confession and therapy sessions, to "manipulate and exploit her into complying with his sexual demands," according to a civil lawsuit.
He urged the victim to divorce her husband, was later transferred to a parish in Helena, Arkansas, yet kept up his abusive behavior and reportedly "sexually exploited other women before, during, and after the time he sexually abused" this victim.
According to media reports, Horowitz Law attorneys filed a lawsuit and said Arkansas law makes it illegal for a person, specifically including a member of the clergy, to consent to a sexual relationship with a person they have power over. The suit mentions that at least two other priests were aware of the sexual misconduct. Reports state that the plaintiff claims Kanu manipulated her into a sexual and romantic relationship while acting as her spiritual mentor.
Attorney Jessica D. Arbour said, "Arkansas law makes it illegal for a person, specifically including a member of the clergy, to consent to a sexual relationship with a person they have power over." " Kanu used his position over the woman to assure her his actions were part of "God's plan. He took his time to have her let her guard down and then eventually converted it into a sexual relationship as part of the counseling relationship," Arbour said.
Kanu was removed from his parish in 2011. The Diocese of Umuahia in Nigeria shows Kanu listed on their website in 2018. He is even shown on YouTube performing Sunday morning service in Nigeria.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse by Arkansas priests in the Diocese of Little Rock. Our lawyers are now offering free legal consultations to discuss a potential lawsuit and your other options as a survivor of sexual abuse by priests and other employees of the Little Rock Diocese. Your chance to pursue legal action will soon be over. Most victims of abuse will never be able to recover damages if they miss the temporary window to file a lawsuit, so please contact us to discuss your case today. Call us at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to [email protected] to discuss your options today.