KCK archdiocese criticized for ‘quiet disclosure’ of priest accused of sexual abuse

KANSAS
The Kansas City Star

BY JUDY L. THOMAS
jthomas@kcstar.com

A victims’ advocacy group on Tuesday sharply criticized the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas for it’s “quiet disclosure” about a priest who church officials say has been credibly accused of sexual abuse.

The allegations were revealed in a notice on Page 7 of the Sept. 11 issue of The Leaven, the archdiocesan newspaper.

“The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has recently received credible allegations of abuse of minors against Father Edward Roberts, a priest of the archdiocese who died in 1997,” the notice said.

The action angered leaders of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

“Shame on Archbishop Joseph Naumann and his top aides,” said the group’s national director, David Clohessy, in a statement. “They know it’s disingenuous to disclose this information in this very limited way. They know that a small notice in a Catholic publication reduces the chances that a deeply wounded, still struggling survivor will see and be comforted by this news.”

In the past, the archdiocese has published announcements in The Leaven and issued news releases to the media when priests have been accused of sexual misconduct.

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