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Priest Abuse Support Group Calls Attention to Local Cases Fox 4 November 23, 2009 http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-priest-abuse-support-snap-112309,0,1246371.story RIGHT NOW: Working for You: Today's Jobs Priest Abuse Support Group Calls Attention To Local Cases Tess Koppelman Meagan Kelleher, FOX 4 Web Producer November 23, 2009 A group that formed to support victims of priest abuse in the Catholic Church is now calling attention to other abuse cases. They say they're speaking for the victims who are often too ashamed or too scared to speak for themselves. Some members of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, protested Monday to call attention to two child abuse cases that have local ties. Judy Jones was at the former headquarters of the Church of the Nazarene on Monday to talk about Ryan Wonderly. He was a children's minister with the church and is now serving 35 years in prison for crimes against young girls. There's also a civil lawsuit against the Church of the Nazarene, based here in the metro. "The reason these children are suing is because he was allowed to be in the church and allowed to work with kids even after he admitted to having a problem with child porn," Jones said. Jones said her brother was a victim of priest abuse and she held up pictures of other young victims as a reminder that they were just children. When religion is involved, many victims are too afraid to say anything. "They tend to use God or the fear of God to get to victims and keep victims silenced," Jones said. SNAP also called attention to a separate abuse case involving Paul Cool. He was recently arrested in DeKalb County, Missouri. He's being sent to Vermont on two charges of lewd conduct, one involving a child. Jones said Cool was a leader in his church and she believes there could be more victims. "We say don't go to the church, go to police," Jones said. "It's a crime that is being committed against them." Jones also asked for victims in the Mohler case who have not yet called police to call police and tell what they know. That case in Independence and Lafayette County involves many victims and more than 40 charges against a father and four sons. |
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