School Trustee Ordered To Testify

A judge has ordered a member of the Holy Cross Academy board of trustees to answer questions from prosecutors regarding the murder of a nun and allegations of sexual abuse at the West Kendall school.

Board member Joseph Blonsky initially rebuffed prosecutors’ questions, citing attorney-client privilege and other reasons. In addition to being a trustee, Blonsky represents the school as an attorney.

But on Friday, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Manuel Crespo ruled Blonsky had to answer certain questions that did not fall under any legal shield. That includes questions about the personal lives of Father Abbot Gregory Wendt and Father Damian Gibault, the academy’s leaders.

Crespo will rule later this month on whether Blonsky will have to answer questions involving religious issues.

A Ukrainian novice monk confessed to fatally stabbing Sister Michelle Lewis on March 25. After his arrest, 18-year-old Mykhaylo Kofel told detectives that Wendt and Gibault sexually abused him since he arrived in South Florida for monastic training four years ago.

The pair have adamantly denied the allegations through their attorneys.