BishopAccountability.org
	Sexual Abuse Scandal Linked to the Northwoods By Elizabeth Fay WAOW March 26, 2010 http://www.waow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12206666 [with video] BOULDER JUNCTION (WAOW)--SNAP, an advocacy group for those who have been abused by priests, held several press conferences throughout the world, including northern Wisconsin. The group members say Father Murphy, the priest accused of molesting about 200 deaf boys mostly at St. John's in Milwaukee, continued working with the Catholic church, even after allegations of sexual abuse surfaced. That's why the SNAP Director of Minnesota, Bob Schwiderski, spoke out at St. Anne's Church, in Boulder Junction. According to church documents, in 1974, church officials sent Murphy to Boulder Junction on what they called "sick leave." "The man that was here for 20 years, that was quietly assigned here because they know in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee that he was a serial sex offender whose main target were children that were challenged with hearing impairment," says Schwiderski. A letter written by the then-priest of St. Anne's, Irving C. Meyett, said that Father Murphy served as an assistant pastor for the church. His duties included holding mass and teaching sign language classes. "Because Murphy was some guru in sign, people would come here in the summer time from all different areas of the country," says Schwiderski. SNAP leaders are furious that Catholic officials let Murphy continue his work with the church even after his sexual abuse history came to light. During his time at St. Anne's, the then-Archbishop of Milwaukee wrote letters describing Murphy's abuse to Cardinal Ratzinger, who's now the current Pope. Documents show that top officials from the Vatican decided to keep the cases quiet to avoid scandal. Now victims and organization leaders are asking the Pope to take accountability. "He needs to tell the world that the office that he used to run, why they did not address this sick serial clergy sex offender," says Schwiderski. Murphy died a priest in 1998, but not before allegedly abusing at least one more boy. Donald Marshall, now 45 years-old, says Murphy sexually abused him as a teen in his cell at Lincoln Hills School in Irma. Victims of abuse by priest can call SNAP at 1-877-SNAP-HEALS as well as local law enforcement. Use the link to view the church documents released by the New York Times: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/NY_Times_Documents.pdf
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