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  Prosecutors: Priest Should Remain Jailed

NBC 5
March 14, 2008

http://www.nbc5.com/news/15599862/detail.html

Video: Prosecutors: Suburban Priest Still A Threat

CHICAGO -- DuPage County prosecutors said Friday that a suburban priest still poses a threat to the community, and should remain imprisoned.

NBC5's Alex Perez reported that jurors spent the day listening to a clinical psychologist testify in the trial of Fred Lenczycki. The psychologist, who evaluated Lenczycki, described the 63-year-old priest as a pedophile who had a hard time controlling his urges. The clinical psychologist said she did not believe Lenczycki had enough treatment to stop his pattern of abusing boys.

Prosecutors argued that Lenczycki is a threat, and should remain jailed under a special monitoring program, even though he has served his time, and is eligible for parole.

This is the first time prosecutors are evoking the law, which was passed in 1998.

"He's a shrewd serial predator," said Barbara Blaine of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "We know that he engaged in extremely bizarre behaviors with children."

Blaine said she believes releasing Lenczycki would put other children in harm's way, Perez reported. Lenczycki worked at nine parishes, and while he pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of, abusing three altar boys, at least 14 children in the last 25 years have accused him of inappropriate behavior.

"This case is like every other case of priest sexual abuse," Blaine said . "The hierarchy tends to cover up and minimize and deny, instead of acknowledging."

The cases Lenczycki was convicted of occurred at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Hinsdale between 1982 and 1984. Prosecutors said Lenczycki convinced the children to try on costumes for a made-up school play. Lenczycki would then wrap sashes around the children's naked bodies and abuse them, prosecutors also said.

Lenczycki's attorney, James Montgomery, said the priest had served his time, and with continued treatment, he would not be a threat to society. The trial will resume on Monday, and is expected to last a week.

 
 

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