Edwardsville woman says priest coerced her abortion

EDWARDSVILLE --An Edwardsville woman claims in a lawsuit that she became pregnant after having sex with a Catholic priest and had an abortion at his suggestion.

The woman, Holly Force, could not be reached for comment. Her lawyer, David E. Leefers, of Jacksonville, declined comment. Force and her husband, Christopher, are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed this week in Madison County.

The priest, the Rev. Thomas R. Szydlik, who has not been charged with any crime in connection with the allegation, did not return a call seeking comment. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria, in a prepared statement, said Szydlik "vehemently and adamantly denies" the allegations but has voluntarily stepped down from ministry until the matter is resolved. Also named as defendants are the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and diocese officials....