BishopAccountability.org
	Group Wants Milwaukee Archdiocese Member Removed from Review Board WISN October 13, 2009 http://www.wisn.com/news/21286327/detail.html MILWAUKEE -- A victim's advocacy group is calling for a member of the Milwaukee archdiocese to be removed from one of the church's boards. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, filed a fraud lawsuit against the archdiocese on Tuesday. The group also released new documents they said are proof of several attempts to cover up the sexual abuse of at least 200 boys. In addition to filing the suit, SNAP is calling for the Rev. James Connell to step down or be removed from the diocesan review board. The board is responsible for investigating abuse claims filed against the church. But SNAP said Connell was one of several people involved in covering up alleged sexual abuse by the Rev. Lawrence Murphy in the 1970s."Here they have a man who covered up for one of the worst pedophiles in state history, and the archdiocese has him ruling on whether his fellow priests should be removed from ministry or not for being sex offenders," said SNAP Midwest Director Peter Isley. The Milwaukee archdiocese responded to the allegations on Tuesday saying, "Father Connell's role in compiling documentation of Murphy's actions was part of an effort to permanently remove Murphy from the priesthood. Connell served full-time in the Chancery office from 1994 to 2000, and during that time, compiled a report that was used in the removal process." Murphy died in 1998.
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