IOWA
KWWL
A group of eastern Iowans hope the support of an archbishop will lead to the defrocking of a former Sioux City bishop.
The Survivor Network of those Abused by Priests, or "SNAP," was in Dubuque asking Archbishop Jerome Hanus for help. The person SNAP would like to see defrocked is retired Sioux City Bishop Lawrence Soens. The group claims the bishop is guilty of 10 molestation charges, but seems to have escaped consequences.
On Monday, SNAP members met outside the Catholic Archdiocesan Headquarters. Their goal was to deliver a letter to Archbishop Hanus asking for his help in the removal or defrocking of Bishop Soens. SNAP members think action started in Dubuque could be the first step towards what they feel is justice.
Steve Theisen is the director of Iowa SNAP and says, "I don't know if bishop hanus has the authority to take action but he can at least get it to rome and get it moving so that children here in Iowa are protected."