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	Nun Speaks out against Catholic Diocese of Kansas City/ St. Joseph By Heather Staggers KCTV November 8, 2011 http://www.kctv5.com/story/15990802/nun-speaks-out-against-catholic-dioceses-of-kansas-city-st-joseph KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - A nun has come forward saying the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City/ St. Joseph did little to help victims of alleged abuse. Sister Jeanne Christensen spoke out against the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City/ St. Joseph and its leadership. Something she said, as a former employee and sister of the church, was difficult but necessary. "If we remain silent, these things will continue to be covered up and continue to be ignored. It is our responsibility to protect the children so that this does not continue to happen," Christensen said in a news conference called by SNAP, the Survivors Networks of those Abused by Priests. Christensen was employed as a nun by the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Joseph in its Peace and Justice Office from July 2000 to May 2006. She said, during her job as a victim's advocate, she heard close to 40 stories from people who said they had been abused by their priests as a child. "Victims find it very difficult to speak out and, when they do speak out, it brings it all back," she said. Christensen stood with members from SNAP outside of the diocese headquarters. SNAP announced Tuesday another civil lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City/ St. Joseph, its leader, Bishop Finn and another priest, Father Michael Tierney. The suit claims Tierney sexually groped a boy who is now in his 50s. This is the fifth lawsuit against Tierney. "They've known for months that Father Michael Tierney posed a danger to the children and yet they allowed him to remain working with children," said Barbara Dorris with SNAP. "I hope they are held accountable because children were placed at risk," said Christensen. In a released statement, the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City/ St. Joseph released a statement, a spokesperson for the dioceses said, after they received reports of sexual misconduct, Tierney appeared before an independent review board and was removed from all pastoral assignments in June of 2011.
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