By Chad Douglas
ConnectTriStates
November 4, 2009
http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=372346
Allegations of sexual abuse by priests comes up in the national news from time to time.
A couple of weeks ago, the New York Times reported a story about a priest who lived and worked in Quincy in the 1980s.
 |
| Judy Block Jones speaks to KHQA's Chad Douglas |
The article says the priest, Father Henry Willenborg, had a love affair with a woman and fathered a child with her.
There also is an allegation that he sexually molested a 15 year old girl.
If you'd like to read that article in its entirety, here's a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/us/16priest.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=our%20lady%20catholic%20church&st=cse&scp=2
Wednesday, that report brought a representative of SNAP to Quincy.
SNAP is an acronym that stands for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Judy Block Jones drove up to the site of the former seminary where this priest worked, which is now Quincy University's North Campus.
Keep in mind, Quincy University did not own the seminary at the time, and has nothing to do with this story.
Jones came to Quincy looking for other possible victims of Father Willenborg, hoping they come forward.
"If one victim comes forward, that's a success for us. They don't need to keep it around. They don't need to keep it secret. All it does is keep abuse happening. This man needs to be held accountable. The people who cover it up need to be held accountable. It's never going to stop. It's not their fault," says Jones.
According to the New York Times article, Father Willenborg has been suspended from his current church in Wisconsin.
You can find more information at www.snapnetwork.org.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.