MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Victims want answers from Duluth bishop
SNAP: “Why delay suspending accused predator?”
Cleric is accused of abusing a child in Europe St. Paul
But local Catholic officials waited at least two weeks to act
Group calls on those who were hurt to “protect others by speaking up”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will blast Duluth’s Catholic bishop for
–-waiting two weeks to suspend an accused predator priest, and
–-letting his top aide publicly praise the priest which deters other victims from speaking up.
They will also
–plead with anyone who may have information or suspicions about the priest to speak up now,
–urge the bishop to disclose the names of every child molesting cleric in the diocese and permanently post their names on his website, and
–beg every person who saw, suspected and suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups in Minnesota (especially current and ex-Catholic employees) to come forward, call police, protect others and start healing.
WHEN
Monday June 16 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Duluth Diocese main office at 2830 East 4th street in Duluth
WHO
Verne Wagner a clergy sex abuse victim and Northern MN Director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
A Catholic priest has just been suspended from his post at a local church and a hospital because of allegations that he molested a Minnesota boy years ago. Victims believe he should have been vetted better and suspended sooner. They also want Duluth’s bishop – and a local hospital – to aggressively seek out others the priest may have hurt and urge them to call police and prosecutors.
Last month, parents of a former member of the St. John’s Boys’ Choir came forward charging that Fr. Timothy Backous had inappropriate sexual contact with their son in the 1990s on a choir trip. The choir is affiliated with St. John’s Abbey in St. Cloud Minnesota. The parents were prompted to act when they learned that Fr. Backous had said mass in late May at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. They immediately wrote and complained to Archbishop John Nienstedt and current St. John’s Abbot John Klassen.
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