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	Minnesota: Sex Abuse Victims Call for Boycott of Episcopal Diocese over Convicted Sex Offender By David Virtue Virtue Online August 15, 2007 http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6513 Minnesota — Sex abuse victims ask church members to stop donating Admitted predator is heading a third 'spiritual retreat' this week in Minnesota. In rare move, Episcopal officials respond to pressure & warn participants about his crimes but defrocked, convicted cleric shouldn't attend, much less lead such events, support group says. They ask parishioners to contribute elsewhere until molester is forbidden to return to center. "Why take risks with children's safety?," SNAP asks WHAT At a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will publicly ask all Minnesota Episcopalians to donate elsewhere until church officials — pledge to stop letting an admitted and registered sex offender lead 'spiritual retreats' here, — apologize for failing to disclose his crimes to neighbors, residents and retreat attendees, and — ask anyone who witnessed, suspected or experienced sex crimes by this former Episcopal minister to come forward, get help, and call the police. WHEN TODAY, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 1:15 p.m. WHERE Outside the headquarters of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota (1730 Clifton Place, Minneapolis) WHO Two-three sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including the organization's Minnesota director WHY Lynn C. Bauman, a convicted, admitted child molester and defrocked Episcopal minister, is leading a his third retreat this week at the Episcopal House of Prayer on the grounds of St. John's Abbey in Collegeville. In 1996, Bauman admitted molesting an eight year old boy in Texas on a retreat. He was sentenced to ten years' probation and is still a registered sex offender. The Dallas Morning News called Bauman 'a nationally known spiritual leader and author' and said he was accused of sexually abusing at least two other boys. (8/11/99 & 1/7/99). After pressure from a support group, the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota began warning individuals last week about Bauman's past. Minnesota: Diocese Welcomes Admitted, Convicted and Registered Sex Offender As Retreat Leader Despite his crime, Episcopal officials continue letting Bauman hold retreats at their facility. In the past, despite SNAP's complaints and concerns, publicity and promotion material for the retreats made no mention that Bauman is an admitted child molester. The Episcopal House of Prayer was created by an arrangement between the Abbey and the Minnesota Episcopal Diocese. The House of Prayer is found on the Abbey's website under the heading "directory and campus links" - http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/contact/index.html Under the phrase "About Us" on the House of Prayer web site, this statement is made: "The Episcopal House of Prayer is situated on five acres of wooded land provided by St. John's Abbey, a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery in Collegeville, Minnesota." Lynn Bauman's brother, Ward Bauman, is the director of the program. Lynn Bauman, now, 65, has a website and calls himself the "Director of the Praxis Learning Center." Calendar 2007 He also holds retreats at The Way of The Wolf Retreat Center, Fredericksburg TX (830 997 0711). CONTACT Bob Schwiderski of Wayzata, Minnesota SNAP Director 952-471-3422 Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP National Outreach Director 314-862-7688 David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314-566-9790 Bob Schwiderski, Minnesota SNAP Director; 952-471-3422 www.SNAP-GreatPlains.org
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