October 17, 2005

Clergy sex abuse victims seek action from Superior diocese

WISCONSIN
Duluth New Tribune

BY LINDA HANSON
NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Two victims of clergy sex abuse visited the Catholic Diocese of Superior headquarters today to urge diocese officials to do more to help such victims.

Peter Isely, Midwest director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and Bob Schwiderski, a member of SNAP, held a press conference outside the diocese office, then went inside to deliver a letter to a diocese spokesman that spelled out several requests.

The visit was prompted by questions surrounding the diocese's handling of allegations against the Rev. Ryan Erickson.

Earlier this month Erickson was found by a judge to be the probable killer of Hudson, Wis., funeral home director Dan O'Connell, 39, and employee James Ellison, 22, in February 2002. A prosecutor said evidence suggested that O'Connell had found out Erickson was sexually abusing someone, was providing alcohol to minors or both.

Posted by kshaw at October 17, 2005 03:05 PM