ALABAMA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Decision reached on indictment of predator priest
Mother of alleged victim is told charges will be filed
Records are sealed, however, so outcome is unclear
Victims call on church & court officials to disclose ruling
SNAP: “Catholic bishop should aggressively seek out others who have been hurt”
Support group also releases list of 14 other “credibly accused AL child molesting clerics”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
– discuss a grand jury’s decision about possibly indicting an accused predator priest,
– beg church and court officials, for the safety of children, to disclose that recent decision,
– prod others who were similarly abused to step forward so they can begin to heal, and
– urge Birmingham’s bishop head to disclose the identity and whereabouts of other credibly accused clerics who have lived or worked in the area
WHEN
Monday, April 20 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of St Paul, 2120 3rd Avenue, North (corner of 22nd Street N ) in Birmingham, AL
WHO
Two members of a self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri woman who is the organization’s long time outreach director
WHY
A grand jury has reached a decision about indicting a Birmingham Catholic on child sex abuse charges. That decision is sealed but last week, the mother of the alleged victim was told by prosecutors that the grand jury has issued a “true bill” and the criminal case will proceed.
Almost 1.5 years ago, Fr. David Lawrence Stone (205-767-8384) was arrested in Jefferson County and accused of molesting a child younger than 12 years old. (Fr. Stone also goes by the name “Francis Mary Stone.”) The alleged victim is Fr. Stone’s child.
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