By Paul Gully
The Saginaw News
September 1, 2009
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2009/08/sex_abuse_group_invites_sagina.html
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| Barbara A. Blaine, 53, of Chicago, the president and founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and her supporters, in the background from left, Brad G. Sylvester, 41, of Auburn, Jim J. LeBoeuf, 55, of Detroit, Kim M. Sylvester, 42, of Auburn and Debbie A. Skousen of Brighton, present a letter to chancellor Sister Mary Judith O'Brien, 56, of Saginaw, for Bishop Joseph R. Cistone at the Saginaw Catholic Diocese Diocesan Center, 5800 Weiss in Saginaw Township, on Monday afternoon. The letter contained an invitation to Cistone to attend a town hall meeting Oct. 25 to talk about clergy sex abuse in Philadelphia, where he is from. Photo by Chris Fryer | The Saginaw News |
Members of SNAP -- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests -- conducted a demonstration and press conference outside the Saginaw Catholic Diocese headquarters today, urging Saginaw's newly appointed Bishop Rev. Joseph Cistone to attend a town hall meeting the Chicago-based organization plans to host later this month.
The members called for the bishop to respond to questions regarding a 2005 grand jury report that accused Cistone of covering up for clergy accused of sexual misconduct in Philadelphia.
The five SNAP members entered the Diocesan Center, 5800 Weiss in Saginaw Township, and attempted to hand-deliver a letter addressed to Cistone, inviting him to the public "town-hall style meeting" at 2 p.m. Oct. 25. A location has yet to be determined.
Sister Mary Judith O'Brien, vice chancellor of the diocese, informed them that Cistone was out of the office at a meeting and would not be available for comment.
O'Brien apologized to the members and supporters present "for any injuries or offenses done by any member of the church" and said she would be sure to deliver the letter to Cistone.
"We hope Bishop Cistone accepts our invitation. He needs to be there," said Kim Sylvester of Auburn, whose husband, Brad Sylvester, is director of the Saginaw SNAP chapter. "If he's not there, it just shows that he's afraid of something."
SNAP also is asking that Cistone disclose the whereabouts of several former Saginaw priests who were either accused of or admitted to engaging in inappropriate sexual misconduct.
O'Brien said that no organization or company releases personal information of its current or former employees. She also pointed out that the former priests in question -- Richard Szafranski, Leonard Wilkuski and John Hammer -- are all no longer active in the church.
O'Brien said Cistone is committed to the safety of children. She did not say if the bishop will attend the town hall meeting.
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