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	SNAP to Diocese: Find Sex Abuse Victims By Veronica Cintron WWLP December 1, 2009 http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/SNAP-to-Diocese-Find-sex-abuse-victims [with video] Group claims priest molested local children SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, stood in the rain outside the Bishop Timothy McDonnell Elliot Street residence. They claim Dominican priest Aaron Joseph Cote --a western Massachusetts native-- had likely molested children in our area during the 90's. "Every place that he's worked, allegations arose of abuse against children," said SNAP member Bill Nash. Cote, who has worked in several states, was just convicted and ordered to serve a 10-year probation in Manhattan. Diocese Spokesman Mark Dupont told 22News, Cote served the Springfield Diocese for a brief time in the 90's on a fill-in basis at St. Mary's Parish in Westfield and St.Theresa's Parish in South Hadley. SNAP wants the Springfield Diocese to reach out to potential abuse victims in our area. Dupont said, parishes posted notices at the time and any victims had the chance to come forward. "Despite all the attention they and we have brought to Aaron Cote, we have never had an allegation filed through us," he said. Dupont also said this case is out of the Diocese's jurisdiction at this point.
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