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	Advocates for Survivors of Abuse Criticize Jenky Letter By Catharine Schaidle Journal Star February 7, 2009 http://www.pjstar.com/news/x955248966/Advocates-for-survivors-of-abuse-criticize-Jenky-letter PEORIA — A support group for those who say they were abused by the clergy blasted a letter Bishop Daniel Jenky planned to send out to the Diocese of Peoria this weekend, saying its contents are outrageous, sad and scary. "It's hard to know which of Jenky's radical claims is more bogus — that journalists hate Catholicism or that the diocese handles clergy sex cases perfectly," said Barbara Dorris, outreach director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, in a statement. SNAP received the letter dated Feb. 7-8 addressed to all "priests, deacons, religious and faithful of the diocese," from a concerned Catholic. SNAP provided the Journal Star with the letter. The bishop wrote, "Amid all the tensions of our nation's culture wars and in the face of the media's intense hatred for our Catholic faith, I am increasingly concerned that our church in effect no longer enjoys equal justice under the law." The clergy support group retorted: "It's possible that Jenky is attacking reporters just to intimidate them into soft-pedaling stories about church corruption and recklessness and deceit. Or it's possible Jenky actually believes this outrageous claim. Either is sad and scary." The group pointed out that at least 18 current or former Peoria priests are admitted, proven or credibly accused predators. "Is Jenky seriously claiming the church handled every one of those cases promptly, openly and honorably? That defies common sense and painful history," Dorris said. In his letter, Jenky also said: "I have not discovered any evidence in this diocese that priests guilty of misconduct were ever moved from assignment to assignment. Our diocese normally offers counseling to victims rather than paying out large cash settlements." Victims of clergy sexual abuse such as Jeff Jones strongly disagree. "He has paid for counseling for five of us, but there's another eight that he has not," Jones said. "I have given him the names and addresses and bills for all of them. I have not heard a word from them." Jones, a 55-year-old Rockford man, and his brother, Joe Jones, 58, say they were abused by the Rev. Walter A. Breuning during several years in the 1960s. The bishop had repeatedly promised to pay for counseling for victims, he said. He also took issue with the bishop's statement that "not every allegation has been found to be credible by our Review Commission, and so our diocese resists supporting those claims that simply cannot be sustained by the facts." If those claims were not credible, Jones wants to know why Jenky defrocked every one of the priests involved. "But when it comes to paying the bills, they are not credible," Jones said. On Sunday morning, Jones and members of his group plan to distribute leaflets to counter Jenky's letter at St. Mary's Cathedral following the 10:30 a.m. service at which the bishop usually presides. Jenky did not respond to telephone and e-mail messages from the Journal Star. Catharine Schaidle can be reached at 686-3290 or cschaidle@pjstar.com
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