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SNAP Goes after Bishop Edward Rice By Jerry Berger Berger's Beat December 2, 2010 http://bergersbeat.com/snap-goes-after-bishop-edward-rice/ New St. Louis Bishop Edward Rice joins a remarkably small circle of Catholic prelates who are in an elite, if uncomfortable circle, those who have actually had to testify in open court in a clergy abuse case. In 2005, then Father Rice was a character witness for the Rev. Thomas Graham who was on trial in a St. Louis city jury trial, presided over by Judge Angela Turner Quigless. Despite Father Rice’s testimony, Graham was deemed guilty, though the verdict was later overturned when another court ruled that the law under which Graham was charged was unconstitutional. The prosecutor was Ed Postawko and Graham’s defense attorney was Christian Goeke. Graham is believed to be living now in Shrewsbury at Regina Cleri, a retirement home for priests. SNAP’s public comment today about Rice’s promotion? “More than 50 priests are proven, admitted or credibly accused chid sex offenders. In none of these cases, civil or criminal, have we seen any evidence that Rice ever did anything to call the police, notify parishioners, warn parents or protect kids in any way. In none of these cases, as best as we can tell, did Rice ever voice any dissent with or objection to a single, callous, reckless or deceptive move by his supervisors in the archdiocese. So, we’re not optimistic that Rice is or will become the kind of compassionate church official that children need and Catholics deserve.” |
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