BishopAccountability.org
	New Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed against Baptist Church Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests April 23, 2008 http://snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2008_press_releases/042308_baptist_ed_greene_Marquette_manor.htm WHAT: At a press conference, a new sexual abuse lawsuit against a local fundamentalist Baptist church will be announced. The lawsuit names the Baptist Church, Marquette Manor Baptist Church, and its former youth pastor, Edward D. Greene. WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, April 23 at 11:00am Daley Plaza, next to the Picasso. 50 W Washington St, between Dearborn and Clark. WHO: The victim, her Chicago attorney, and several members of a self-help support group, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPNetwork.org), the nation's largest self-help group for men and women who have been wounded by religious authority figures. WHY: In DuPage County last month, Ed Greene, the former youth pastor at Marquette Manor Baptist Church, pled guilty to sexually abusing Rachel Griffith from 1994 and 1999, when she was between 14 and 18 years old. Before the abuse began, Griffith trusted Greene enough to reveal to him that her father, a former deacon of the church, sexually abused her. Instead of reporting that to police, as he was required to do, Greene seized the opportunity to abuse Griffith himself. Greene abused Griffith at least 50 times between 1994 and 1999, all while promising Griffith that he was helping her. This was particularly confusing for Griffith, given that the church was a conservative Baptist church that taught her dancing, drinking, and sexual acts were all sinful. Greene abused Griffith all over the Chicagoland area, as well as on church trips to Mexico, Canada, New York, and Wisconsin. Greene was sentenced to four years in prison, but will likely be released after serving only two years. He is believed to be married with children and is currently incarcerated in Illinois. Two other church officials, John Puga, the former basketball coach at the school, and Howard Blattel, a former deacon at the church, have been charged with sexual assault in the last 5 years as well. Puga was charged with abusing a child between 2001 and 2002. Blattel was accused of assaulting an 89-year old woman in 2004. Griffith, now a resident of South Carolina, is a 27-year-old stay-at-home mom who is married with 2 young children. CONTACT Marc Pearlman, victim's attorney 773 368 0142 or 312 261 4550 Jeff Anderson, victim's attorney 651 227 9990 or 612 817 8665 Jessica Arbour, Paralegal 612 281 4945 or 312 261 4580
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