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	Victims' Rights Advocates: Sacramento Catholic Diocese Slow to Tell of Accused Priest By Jennifer Garza Sacramento Bee October 25, 2011 http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/25/4004387/victims-rights-advocates-sacramento.html A victims' rights group criticized the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento on Monday, claiming church officials quietly suspended a priest accused of sexual abuse earlier this month and have not done enough to notify potential victims. Leaders of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) said church officials removed the Rev. William Feeser from active ministry but "have not been open about it," said Chico Chavez of SNAP. "They promised to be more transparent," said Chavez. "Why haven't they reached out to other potential victims?" The victims' rights group plans to hold a press conference this afternoon at the Sacramento Pastoral Center. Diocesan leaders removed Feeser, 63, from ministry after a Southern California woman accused him of sexually molesting her at Our Lady of Assumption in Carmichael when she was a minor more than three decades ago. Church officials announced the priest's suspension at Immaculate Conception Parish in Sacramento soon after the allegation was made. Feeser is retired for health reasons and lives at the parish. "We are in the process of investigating the allegation," said diocesan spokesman Kevin Eckery. He added that the church responded quickly to the accusation and is taking it seriously. "If something turns up, then of course we will then go everywhere he served and alert people," said Eckery. He added that the church wants to be fair to the alleged victim and the accused. This is the first allegation against Feeser. Feeser has served at various parishes in the Sacramento diocese since 1977: Our Lady of Assumption in Carmichael, St. James in Davis, St. Joseph in Sacramento, St. Robert in Sacramento, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Sacramento and All Hallows Parish in Sacramento. He was a teacher at Jesuit High School in Carmichael and St. Francis High School in Sacramento. He also worked at UC Davis Medical Center. Chavez and other victim advocates said church leaders should have been more aggressive in notifying parishioners at all the churches where Feeser has served. They said church officials should make both oral and written announcements about Feeser, doing everything they can to reach out to potential victims. "I'd like to see (notices) at every church where he has worked," Chavez said. "There's no reason to wait." Contact: jgarza@sacbee.com
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