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| Parish Honoring Admitted Child Molester
SNAP
April 13, 2017
http://www.snapnetwork.org/ca_parish_honoring_admitted_child_molester
Parish honoring admitted child molester
He has been banned from LA and Chicago archdioceses and taken out of ministry by his religious order
He was sued for abuse last year, however
San Gabriel Parish still calls him priest, gives him award
May 25 event will also honor actor Edward James Olmos, others
Victims to Archdioceses: Act now to stop dangerous callous behavior
Victims of child sex abuse wrote a letter today to the Archdioceses of Los Angeles and Chicago and a Chicago-based religious order to express their outrage that a banned priest and admitted child molester is being honored by a local Los Angeles-area parish.
That man, Bruce Wellems, has been banned from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, removed from the priesthood in both Los Angeles and Chicago, and has also been taken out of ministry by the Claretians, a religious order—all for allegations of sexual abuse.
[chicagotribune.com]
Last year, he was sued for child sexual abuse.
[bigstory.ap.org]
Despite this, San Gabriel Mission is honoring Wellems at a scholarship dinner alongside actor Edward James Olmos.
[]
(The announcement is on page two of the link)
The letter was written by two members of SNAP, the Survivors Network (SNAPNetwork.org) the nation’s largest support group for men and women sexually abused as children in religious and institutional settings.
Bruce Wellems and the Claretians were sued by Wellems alleged victim, Eric Johnson, in September 2016. As a result of the case, Wellems is not allowed to wear a priest collar, present himself as a priest, or perform any of the functions of a priest.
[bigstory.ap.org]
Parishioners at San Gabriel Mission were informed of allegations against Wellems in 2014, when letters written by Claretian officials surfaced, saying that Wellems had been accused of sexual misconduct and banned from Los Angeles.
[pasadenastarnews.com]
“To honor a man like Bruce Wellems is tone deaf and utterly callous,” the letter said. “He’s not allowed to be in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He’s been sued for sexual abuse. He’s admitted to the offenses. He's been taken out of ministry by his religious order. He’s not allowed to act as a priest. Yet, San Gabriel and his fellow Claretians decided to give him an award next to Edward James Olmos. I doubt seriously that anyone wants to share the stage with Wellems knowing his track record of alleged abuse."
The letter asks that the parish and the Claretians rescind the award and write an immediate apology to Wellems’ alleged victim and anyone else who was hurt by this award announcement. The letter also asks for an apology from the Archdioceses of Chicago and Los Angeles and reassurances that reckless and dangerous behavior like this will not happen again.
"Through this entire ordeal,” the letter says, "no one has ever expressed a word of sorrow or remorse for the boy and the family that Bruce Wellems hurt to deeply. How shameful for an organization that claims to care about those who have been so deeply hurt.”
The alleged victim of Bruce Wellems is represented by Chicago attorney Marc Perlman (773) 368-0142.
The letter, sent by email, is attached below.
Contacts:
Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Leader
(949) 322-7434
Contact: jcasteix@gmail.com
Barb Dorris, SNAP Managing Director
(314) 503-0003
Contact: SNAPdorris@gmail.com
*************
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
PO Box 56539
Saint Louis MO 63156
Archbishop Jose Gomez
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
(213) 637-6510 fax
Contact: mediarelations@la-archdiocese.org
Cardinal Blaise Cupich
Archdiocese of Chicago
Contact: kbirmingham@archchicago.org
Contact: mknoll@archchicago.org
Rev. Rosendo Urrabazo? CMF
Contact: schneiderc@claertians.org
Contact: usaprovince@claretians.org
Dear Sirs:
We are members of SNAP, The Survivors Network, the nation’s largest support group for men and women who were sexually abused as children in religious and institutional settings.
We are writing today to inform you that the San Gabriel Mission Parish is honoring Bruce Wellems at their May 25 “Build the Dreams” scholarship fundraiser. He will be honored alongside award-winning actor Edward James Olmos. You can view the bulletin announcement here on page two of the link:
[]
To refresh your memory, Bruce Wellems, a Claretian, has been banned from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, removed from the priesthood by the Archdiocese of Chicago, and taken out of ministry by Claretians due to active sex abuse litigation.
To honor a man like Bruce Wellems is tone deaf and utterly callous. He’s not allowed to be in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He’s been sued for sexual abuse. He’s admitted to the offense. He’s been booted by his own religious order. He’s not allowed to act as a priest. Yet, San Gabriel and his fellow Claretians decided to give him an award next to Edward James Olmos. I doubt seriously that anyone wants to share the stage with Wellems knowing his track record of admitted abuse.
We ask that you immediately do the following
1. Require San Gabriel Mission and the Build the Dreams Scholarship Fundraiser immediately rescind the award honor for Bruce Wellems
2. Require that San Gabriel Mission and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles issue immediate public apologies to Bruce Wellems alleged victim and anyone else who was offended by this insensitive action
3. Conduct immediate sexual abuse prevention and sensitivity outreach at San Gabriel Mission, so that the Mission does not honor or protect other admitted
Through this entire ordeal, no one has ever expressed a word of sorrow or remorse for the boy and the family that Bruce Wellems hurt so deeply. How shameful for an organization that claims to care about those who have been so deeply hurt.
We look forward to your immediate response.
Sincerely,
Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Leader
Contact: jcasteix@gmail.com
Barb Dorris, SNAP Managing Director
Contact: SNAPdorris@gmail.com
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