CHICAGO (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Cases settle against a nun and a priest
Both abused kids elsewhere but worked in Chicago
SNAP blasts Catholic officials for “on-going secrecy”
It urges Cardinal George to add names to his predators’ list
Group also praises governor & lawmakers for “major child sex reform law”
What:
Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse survivors and their supporters will
–disclose that two Catholic clerics – a nun and a priest – molested kids elsewhere but also worked in Chicago, (lawyers settled cases against both of the clerics,) and
–prod Chicago Catholic officials to add their names (and dozens of other child molesting clerics) to the list of such offenders on the archdiocesan website and update the list of Chicago area child molesting clerics regularly and publicly.
They will also
–praise Illinois’ governor and legislators for recently-enacted “major child safety reform” that will enable more child sex abuse victims to file criminal and civil cases against predators, and
–urge citizens, especially Catholics, to spread the word about the opportunity to seek justice in court.
When:
Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1:30 p.m.
Where:
On the sidewalk outside of the Archdiocese of Chicago (835 N Rush St, Chicago)
Who:
Three-four members of a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a Chicago woman who is the organization’s founder and president.
Why:
Catholic officials have paid settlements to victims of two credibly accused child molesting clerics who worked in Chicago. Both clerics were exposed as abusers for the first time. Neither cleric has been publicly “outed” in the Chicago area until today.
1. In September, Fr. Victor Phelan was “named publicly as an alleged abuser for the first time” according to the Associated Press.
Fr. Phelan was “outed” by Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian (617-523-6250, 617-388-5252, garabedianlaw@msn.com). Garabedian reached a settlement with Catholic officials on behalf of a victim who was sexually assaulted by Fr. Phelan in Plainfield NJ in the Newark Archdiocese in 1977.
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