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  Anti-abuse Group Leaflets Parish

Chicago Breaking News
February 22, 2009

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/group-leaflets-former-jesuit-parish.html

Following this month's sentencing of defrocked Catholic priest Donald McGuire, a small group of supporters of victims of sexual abuse by clergy braved the frigid cold Sunday to hand out informational fliers calling on parishioners at the historic Holy Family Parish to learn more about Jesuit priests who, like McGuire, have been convicted of abusing children.

"These people [the parishioners] have a lot more influence than we could possibly imagine," said Peter Isely, Midwest director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, outside the church at 1080 W. Roosevelt Road. "The way to make changes is to make a call or two, and those things really add up. That's our hope."

On Feb. 11, McGuire, 78, was sentenced to 25 years in prison, marking another chapter in his stunning fall from the pinnacle of the Jesuit order. He had once traveled the world giving spiritual retreats and had even acted as a confessor to Mother Teresa. On Friday, another lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court alleging sex abuse and a coverup by McGuire and his supervisors.

Isely said that the group was passing out fliers at Holy Family, the city's second-oldest church, because it was run by the Jesuits for more than 100 years. In 1996, the Archdiocese of Chicago leased the church and operates the parish today. St. Ignatius College Prep, which is still run by the Jesuits, is next door.

The flier urged parishioners to learn more about clergy sex abuse and demands that Jesuit officials release the names and work assignments of priests who have abused children.

Kate Bochte, 47, traveled from Geneva to show her support for victims of sexual abuse in the church.

"These individuals have done nothing wrong and the church turns their back on them in a very cruel way," she said. "I always feel like there should be a millions Catholics beside me doing this. But there aren't."

 
 

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