RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A man's attempt to hold the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond financially liable for his alleged childhood abuse by two priests was rejected by the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday.

The unanimous decision affirmed a lower court's ruling that only individuals -- not their employers -- can be sued for child sexual abuse.

Steve Kopalchick of Hopewell sued the diocese for $5 million in 2003. He claimed two priests at Saint James Catholic Church in Hopewell molested him while he served as an altar boy there in the 1960s.

A 1994 state constitutional amendment extended the statute of limitations for child abuse victims to file lawsuits, but also said such civil suits can only be filed against a "natural person." The Supreme Court said the diocese clearly is not a "natural person," which other courts have defined as "a human being."

A sexual abuse lawsuit against an organization is subject to Virginia's long-standing personal injury statute of limitations, which expires two years after the injury is sustained, the court ruled.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)