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  Appeals Court Upholds Priest's Conviction; SNAP Responds

SNAP
December 3, 2010

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2010_statements/120210_appeals_court_upholds_priests_conviction_snap_responds.htm

We’re grateful this dangerous and recent serial predator priest will remain behind bars. We’re not surprised he’s ‘pulling out all the stops’ and trying to exploit every legal technicality he can. But we are glad that this court, like so many others, understands that kids are safe from pedophiles only when pedophiles are imprisoned.

We hope this news will inspire others who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes, by McGuire or others, to come forward, call police and start healing.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 22 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-churchabuse,0,7137764.story

Appeals court upholds priest's conviction

A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Jesuit priest on charges he traveled abroad and across state lines to have sex with a teenager.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Thursday rejected Donald McGuire's argument that, while the sex occurred, sex wasn't the purpose of the travel.

McGuire is serving a 25-year prison sentence. The 80-year-old has also been convicted in Wisconsin for indecent behavior with a child.

McGuire once commanded a worldwide following as a gifted preacher. And he frequently travelled to retreats.

In a 12-page opinion, Judge Richard Posner concedes statutes indicating sex must be a primary reason for the travel cause confusion. But he writes it's enough to show McGuire planned trips specifically to improve his chances of having sex.

 
 

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