MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 12, 2016
For more information: Amy Lorenz-Moser 314 312 4979 (attorney), David Clohessy 314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com, Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003,SNAPdorris@gmail.com
Twice-accused priest wants his deposition stopped
Cleric claims “I’m innocent & want to clear my name”
“So why delay and what are you hiding?” SNAP asks
Meanwhile, support group seeks to appeal to another court
In a bizarre civil case, a St. Louis priest who has twice been charged with child sex crimes wants a judge to block his deposition. SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) calls the move “hypocritical” and the group’s attorney is planning to proceed with the deposition.
Fr. Xiu Hui “Joseph” Jiang, has been criminally charged in two eastern Missouri counties with molesting a boy and a girl. Last summer, Fr. Jiang filed a civil lawsuit alleging “a conspiracy” by SNAP, prosecutors, two police officers and the parents of a boy, to deprive the priest of his civil rights because he is Chinese and Catholic.
SNAP calls the accusation “absurd yet chilling.” The group believes Fr. Jiang’s testimony will show that his claim has no merit.
“Time and time again, Fr. Jiang claims ‘I’m innocent and want to clear my name,’” said SNAP outreach director Barbara Dorris. “If that’s true, he should welcome the chance to testify. If he’s innocent, what’s he got to hide?”
“We have turned over hundreds of pages of emails and other records to this alleged child molester,” said SNAP director David Clohessy. “Fr. Jiang, on the other hand, has responded to none of our document requests. He can’t have it both ways – insisting that we give up information so the case can move forward while he stonewalls and dodges and delays.”
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