March 06, 2005

Priest Retirement Center Prompts Controversy

SHREWSURY (MO)
Times

by Don Corrigan

Clergy with histories of sex abuse, who reside at a retirement facility in Shrewsbury, may pose a threat to children in the community, according to Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

SNAP members demonstrated Feb. 23 outside the St. Louis County Police Department in Clayton. They held photos of priests and a map with push pins showing where convicted and suspected abusive clerics live in the St. Louis area.

They also produced a letter of concern about molestation risks, addressed to Col. Jerry Lee of St. Louis County Police.

"We write to you today because of our concern that children within your jurisdiction are needlessly being placed at risk because the Archdiocese of St. Louis has chosen to house known pedophiles in a retirement home," declared the letter, authored by David Clohessy and Barbara Dorris of SNAP.

"The home, Regina Cleri, was designed as a retirement facility for priests in their declining years," the letter continued. "It was built with their comfort and safety in mind. It was not built to house dangerous sexual predators."

Posted by kshaw at March 6, 2005 08:35 AM