PEORIA (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Pedophile priest case settles for $1.35 million
Ex-Peoria bishop is also accused of wrongdoing
Controversial prelate now heads Newark archdiocese
His 200 page deposition is being released for first time
And long-secret records of child molesting cleric are disclosed
Victims urge others who “saw, suspected or suffered crimes to speak up”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, victims of pedophile priests will
–announce and discuss a $1.35 million dollar settlement of a child sex abuse & cover up lawsuit,
–beg local Catholics to read hundreds of newly released long secret church records in the case, and
–prod Peoria’s bishop to post names of predator priests on his website.
They will also urge every person who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Peoria Diocese – under the former bishop or subsequent bishops – to call police, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing.
WHEN
TODAY, Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 1:00 p.m.
WHO
Two members of a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a former Pekin man who was also abused by a Peoria Diocese priest
WHERE
Outside the Peoria Catholic diocese headquarters (“chancery office”), 607 NE Madison Ave in Peoria, IL
WHY
In June 2008, Msgr. Thomas W. Maloney was accused in a civil suit of abusing s then eight year old altar boy in 1995-1996 at Epiphany Catholic Church in Normal. The suit also accused then-Peoria Bishop John Myers of ignoring or hiding the crimes.
That suit has just settled for $1.35 million. And as part of the settlement, hundreds of pages of Msgr. Maloney’s personnel files will be posted on line today, along with a 200+ page sworn deposition of Myers. (The records will be available at BishopAccountability.org – in the “New & Newsworthy” section of the site- and at AndersonAdvocates.com)
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