WISCONSIN
SNAP Wisconsin
Merryfield brothers to discuss settlement in Green Bay diocese child sex abuse fraud case
They challenge Bishop Ricken: “What about the other 50 priests besides Fr. Feeney reported to have sexually abused youngsters?”
Case documents and testimony, SNAP says, has exposed Green Bay diocese pattern and practice of secrecy and cover up, past and present
WHAT
Two brothers, Todd and Troy Merryfield, will be joined by leaders of SNAP, The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org, SNAPwisconsin.com), at a sidewalk press conference to discuss their recent settlement with the diocese of Green Bay concerning the fraudulent concealment and transfer of serial child sex offender, John Patrick Feeney.
The brothers and SNAP will further discuss the importance of the case:
–in revealing the conduct of Green Bay church officials, both past and present, in protecting priest child sex offenders;
–in showing a culture of institutional secrecy about these crimes, including the shredding of criminal evidence in priest abuser files; and
–in displaying how Catholic charitable money is used to fund dangerous legal arguments by church officials that could put children at risk in Wisconsin.
The Merryfield’s and SNAP will also:
–renew their call for Bishop Ricken to immediately create a public registry of the names and case histories of the at least 50 other sex offender clerics who have been reported to the diocese over the past several decades to have molested youngsters.
WHEN
FRIDAY, March 22, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
Headquarters of the Diocese of Green Bay, Melania Hall, 1825 Riverside Drive, Green Bay
WHY
Last Friday, the diocese of Green Bay jointly settled with brothers Todd and Troy Merryfiled a civil fraud case for $700,000 dollars. As youngsters, the Merryfields were sexually assaulted by serial child molester, Fr. John Patrick Feeney. The settlement amount was ordered by an Appleton jury last spring after finding the diocese guilty of fraud. Although that case was scheduled for a retrial, due to the judge’s opinion about the conduct of one of the jurors, the diocese has since been found guilty by a Nevada jury.
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