UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
Statement by Barbara Dorris, Outreach Director, 314-862-7688 SNAPdorris@gmail.com
It’s disappointing that Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz is the new president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. His predecessor, Cardinal Tim Dolan, did a terrible job. We don’t expect Kurtz to do any better.
Kurtz refuses to join the ranks of the 30 US bishops who have posted on their websites the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics – a simple, inexpensive, proven public safety measure.
In Knoxville
—Kurtz continually defended his predecessor, Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, an admitted child predator.
— Kurtz refused to remove photos and plaques dedicated to O’Connell in diocese schools and buildings
In Louisville
— Kurtz let Fr. Bruce Ewing, who was indicted on seven felony sex charges, live in a parish for more than a year while the internal investigation was “pending”
– When a church employee complained about Fr.Ewing living at her parish, she says she was fired for being a whistle blower.
[WDRB]
In 2002, America’s Catholic bishops pledged to better protect kids from clergy predators and promised to do background checks and finger printing on employees and volunteers. We believe Kurtz has violated that pledge. He should apologize for and explain his irresponsible moves. And, we feel, he should severely discipline those responsible. (When bishops ignore or minimized wrongdoing, SNAP believes, they essentially endorse and encourage wrongdoing.)
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