CHICAGO (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Victims to leaflet outside Cathedral
SNAP asks for help from lay Catholics on abuse
They urge “tangible safety steps” for new prelate
WHAT
As parishioners leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hand out leaflets on the sidewalk about Chicago’s new archbishop. The fliers urge Catholics to
–educate themselves about the new archbishop’s record on children’s safety.
–prod him to be forthcoming about abuse in his prior diocese,
–judge him by his deeds, not his words, and
–remain vigilant and skeptical about him, rather than trusting and complacent,
The leaflets also urge the new archbishop to
– put several suspended &/or credibly accused Chicago priests in treatment centers,
– oust one of them from his parish, and
– break with his predecessor and post ALL names of predator priests on the archdiocesan website, whether they belong to religious orders (like the Jesuits or the Marianists) or to the archdiocese itself.
WHEN
Sunday, Sept. 21, 11:45 a.m.
WHERE
Outside Holy Name Cathedral, corner of State and Superior. (south of
Chicago Ave.) in Chicago
WHO
Four-six victims of clergy sex crimes who belong to an international support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including the organization’s long time president
WHY
SNAP has concerns about Archbishop Blase Cupich and the church’s continuing clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis. Both his words and his deeds are disturbing, the group says.
In Chicago, SNAP wants Cupich to
–Put three suspended and credibly accused predator priests (Fr. Robert Stepek, Fr. Walter Turlo and Fr. Thomas Swade) in treatment centers, and
–Suspend an accused predator priest, Fr. Micheal O’Connell, from his post at St. Alphonsus Catholic parish (1429 W. Wellington Ave., 773 525 0709) in Lakeview. OConnell was accused of molesting a boy, was suspended him, but later put back on the job this spring, even though a second man came forward saying he witnessed Fr. O’Connell molesting a boy.
CUPICH’S DEEDS (in just about two recent Spokane cases)
–Cupich apparently did nothing, SNAP says, to oust a credibly accused predator priest, Fr. Brad Reynolds, who was still on the job just a few months ago despite 1) two civil abuse suits against him, 2) being suspended by his church supervisors, and 3) allegedly being monitored 24/7 by church staff.
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