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  Church Asked for Names, Whereabouts of Clergy Who Abused Children

By Emily Matesic
WBAY-TV - ABC2
January 3, 2008

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7569083

In addition to a lawsuit filed by two men molested by a priest in the 1970s, the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay is being asked to come clean about clergy members that it knows abused children.

Brothers Todd and Troy Merryfield and SNAP -- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- want the community to be given the names and whereabouts of clergy members the diocese knows sexually assaulted minors.

In a letter to Archbishop Timothy Dolan, SNAP asks the Green Bay diocese to release the names and locations of more than 50 clergy members. It states the Green Bay Catholic diocese released that figure in 2004 but not their names.

"They have an obligation to warn the other communities, the schools, the parishes, the churches where these offenders are right now and to the parents and to the children out there that are at risk," Jeff Anderson, attorney for the Merryfields, said.

"As long as they keep this a secret, our children in this community -- all the communities -- are at risk where all those 53 offenders are working and serving, and no doubt offending and re-offending," Anderson alleged.

Diocesan officials say in following with a directive by former Green Bay Bishop David Zubik, they will not release any names.

"Bishop Zubik declined to release these names, and that's where that situation sits probably until a new bishop is installed," said Deacon Tim Reilly, the diocesan director of administration.

While Reilly doesn't know why Bishop Zubik refused to name the clergy members, several years ago the bishop said in a statement released to Action 2 News he wanted "to be mindful of a person's right to due process and the right to have a good reputation."

But just because the diocese isn't making the names available to the public doesn't mean cases of alleged abuse, whether from 40 years ago or yesterday, aren't being reported.

"All of the names on that list have been turned over to the legal authorities. All of the allegations have been turned over to civil authorities. So there is no allegation that has been made against a priest or deacon that has not been turned over to the civil authorities," Reilly said.

That process started in 2002 and continues to be done when needed today, we're told.

And even though all new allegations since then did not involve people who were actively serving in the church, diocesan officials say anyone currently serving and accused of misconduct is put on leave from their parish.

 
 

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