A priest who taught at Damien Memorial School in the early 1980s admitted in a sworn statement last year that he engaged in sexual conduct with teenagers and adolescents in Hawaii and other U.S. locations where he worked, but that he didn’t consider his attraction to youth perverted or abnormal, according to portions of his videotaped deposition played Wednesday at a news conference here.

In his September testimony, the Rev. Gerald Funcheon described in detail touching a Hawaii youth in a sexual manner while the two were showering together in a cabin, but the priest said he wasn’t aroused, according to the videotape and a transcript of the deposition.

Funcheon also admitted under questioning by plaintiff’s attorney Jeff Anderson to taking nude photographs of boys while he was a priest, the videotape showed.

The disturbing video was played for reporters by Anderson, whose Minnesota-based law firm represents three former Damien students who have filed civil lawsuits in state court here alleging that Funcheon sexually molesting them while he taught at the Kalihi school from 1982 to 1984.

Funcheon gave the videotaped deposition to respond to questions related to various civil lawsuits here and elsewhere accusing him of molestation. The cases are still pending. No criminal charges have been brought against him.

In a statement Wednesday, Bishop Larry Silva called Funcheon’s testimony "very disturbing and sad," adding, "I pray that the publication of this video will not re-traumatize victims, who are trying to find healing for the criminal actions that were done to them. The Diocese of Hono-lulu continues to be committed to active programs of screening and education, so that no minor will be in danger of abuse from a clergyman or Church worker."

Silva urged anyone who has been abused to contact the diocese victim assistance coordinator, Edwina Reyes, at 524-4673 "so that we can accompany them in the healing process."

The latest lawsuit was filed by two of the plaintiffs — identified as John Roe No. 9 and John Roe No. 10 — Tuesday and named multiple defendants, including Funcheon, the Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii and the religious order that runs what is now called Damien Memorial School.

Anderson said his firm has identified at least a dozen Hawaii victims who allegedly were abused by the priest. Funcheon is believed to have molested dozens of youths in at least nine of the 14 places he worked across the country, Anderson said.

Funcheon is now a priest in Missouri but has been asked by his superiors not to function or dress as one, according to the deposition and Anderson. Funcheon could not be reached for comment.

Funcheon was transferred from Minnesota to Hawaii in 1982 because of sexual misconduct allegations made against him in Minnesota, but was still allowed to teach and have contact with students at Damien, Anderson said. He said he had no information yet to indicate that Damien officials knew of the allegations at the time of Funcheon’s transfer.

Pat Bigold, a Damien spokesman, said the school could not address the allegations because no one from the current administration worked at Damien in the early 1980s.

Honolulu attorney Stephen G. Dyer, who represents the school, said he could not comment on the allegations in the latest lawsuit because he had not seen it. Dyer said Damien intends to fully investigate any allegations involving the school.

A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu said he could not comment, having not seen the lawsuit.

At the news conference Wednesday, Aiea resident Kory Oakland, a 43-year-old tattoo artist, identified himself as the John Roe plaintiff who filed the first Hawaii lawsuit against Funcheon in May. Oakland said he was abused by Funcheon as a 13-year-old student at Damien and decided to publicly disclose 30 years later that he was a victim to emphasize a point.

"It’s not a faceless thing," Oakland said. "People need to see it’s their friends, their co-workers, their fellow students."

After returning from a school retreat when he was a freshman, Oakland told his father, Gary Oakland of Kailua, about what Funcheon did at the retreat, the Oaklands said Wednesday. Gary Oakland said his son told him that Funcheon spanked the students with their pants down, rubbed his beard on their bare bellies and, while nude, took showers with them, scrubbing their backs.

Gary Oakland said he called the school’s then-assistant principal to voice his concerns, and Funcheon later apologized and said there had been a misunderstanding.

Days later, Gary Oakland learned that Funcheon had been transferred to the mainland, and the assistant principal told him that — previously unbeknownst to the assistant principal — Funcheon had abuse-related problems before coming to Hawaii and was not supposed to have contact with students here, according to Gary Oakland.

Even after leaving Hawaii, Funcheon continued to molest youth, Anderson added, including at his next assignment at a California high school.

In his deposition, Funcheon acknowledged having a history of not being able to control his impulses toward youth.

Asked by Anderson how many youth he had sexual contact with as a priest, Funcheon said a dozen and perhaps as many as 18, according to the videotape. He told Anderson he couldn’t recall reportedly telling a bishop in 1992 that his victims numbered 50.

Had Damien and diocese officials done their jobs 30 years ago, the post-Hawaii abuses could have been prevented and Funcheon would be behind bars, Anderson said. Yet the church responded as it did in numerous other cases nationally, protecting the priest and keeping his criminal actions secret, the attorney said.

The two lawsuits and at least six other Hawaii ones involving alleged clergy abuse have been filed under a state law that created a two-year window allowing civil cases to be pursued no matter when the incidents happened. Under the law, that window closes in April 2014.