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	Group Wants Sioux City Diocese Bishop to Take Action on Abuse Lawsuit KTIV April 4, 2008 http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=24181 In the past two weeks, two lawsuits have been filed against the Sioux City Diocese and two of their former priests. Both claiming sexual abuse. Friday, one group, who say they support victims of priest abuse are calling on the diocese to take action. Over the past couple of weeks, two men have filed separate lawsuits naming the Sioux City Catholic Diocese and two of their former priests. Jeffrey Steinke who now lives in Montana grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa claims Father John Kurzak a priest at Corpus Christi church at the time, and John Perdue, a seminary student, performed a sex act on Steinke against his will when he was a minor. In another case, Joseph Kestel a Schaller, Iowa native now a resident of Minnesota claims Perdue got him drunk and performed sex acts on him in the early 1980's. Kristie Arlt says, "The diocese constantly reached out to any victims of such abuse and is offering counseling and support." However the diocese says they weren't aware of the claims of these men until recently. This man who represents a group called Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests or SNAP is asking Bishop Nickless to reach out to other potential victims, and to suspend Father Kurzak, who has since transferred to the military. Bob Schwiderski says, "We're asking this Bishop to work with the Bishop in charge of the military to have this man removed immediately." "Bob Schwiderski says, "To go to these locations to where the known abuse happened to reach out to the people who are there and ask if they have been harmed." Kristie Arlt says, "The diocese contacted Father Kurzack who denied all allegations." In the lawsuit filed by Steinke, he claims the diocese assisted Kurzak in transferring to the military. Kristie says, "Based upon our investigation to date there is absolutely no evidence that he was transfer ed to the military because of any un proper acts here at the diocese." The diocese says he was transferred upon his own request at earlier dates than the alleged abuse states in the lawsuit. Perdue has not functioned as a priest since 1986. The policy of the Diocese is to take all claims seriously and to investigate them. The Diocese has a lay Review Board to assist in the investigation and to make recommendations to the Bishop.
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