Victims to Leaflet about Notorious Predator Priest

SNAP
April 14, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mn_victims_to_leaflet_about_notorious_predator_priest

For more information: David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, davidgclohessy@gmail.com), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org)

Abuse victims to leaflet parishes

They’re worried about convicted predator

Despite priest’s guilt, Vatican lifted his suspension

Group wants to find other “victims, witnesses or whistleblowers”

SNAP: “Another criminal case is our only chance to protect other kids”

Weeks ago, Vatican officials lifted the suspension of a Catholic priest who pled guilty to child sex crimes last year in Minnesota.

That decision is prompting one of his victims to launch a “leafletting tour,” seeking out other victims in each of the four towns where the cleric worked.

Next week, Megan Peterson will spend two days in seven towns handing out fliers at or near Catholic churches where Fr. Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul was assigned or where his church colleagues and supervisors now work. The leaflets will urge “anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups to call law enforcement immediately,” according to Barbara Dorris, the outreach director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. She’ll join Peterson in the effort.

And the two vow to keep coming back to northern Minnesota with more leaflets in the future.

“Our goal is to find just one more victim who might be able to file criminal charges and get this proven predator behind bars again,” said Peterson.

“Catholic officials refuse to keep this admitted sex offender away from kids, so our only hope of stopping him is to get him charged and convicted again,” said Dorris. “I’m stunned that top church staff are being so extraordinarily irresponsible, knowing this man is guilty of abusing one girl and is accused of molesting at least two girls.”

News accounts suggest that Fr. Jeyapaul’s current supervisor, Bishop Arulappan Amalraj of the Ootacamund diocese in India (Telephone 0423 2442.366, Fax 0423 - 2441604, 0423 – 2447996, bishopooty@hotmail.com, secretaryooty@yahoo.co.in) plans to re-assign him next month.