SNAP Urges Attorney General to Conduct Investigation

By Laura Rodriguez
CBS 58
February 28, 2012

http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/SNAP-wants-more-investigation-into-clergy-abuse-cases-140700803.html

[with video]

MILWAUKEE -- Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) gathered at the state office building to submit a letter to Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

In the letter, the group requested a meeting to urge him to conduct a full and independent investigation of the victim reports.

"If the archdiocese is admitting to, and that's why they're in bankruptcy court, that they committed or likely committed civil fraud, then criminal fraud cannot be far behind," said Peter Isely, Midwest Director of SNAP.

A SNAP press release states that "a church motion in bankruptcy court will ask Judge Kelley if Archdiocese can conduct abuse inquiry "for" the Attorney General."

"The attorney general obviously doesn't need to see what those that have covered up these crimes are going to submit to them in a statistical analysis," said Isely.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee, however, says they are not conducting an investigation.

"Our hope is that the court will allow enough clarification for us to defend the accusations levied against the archdiocese, while protecting the identities of victims who do not deserve to be victimized again," said Julie Wolf, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

SNAP also says there are 100 alleged offenders who were never before identified by the archdiocese and, consequently, these offenders are not listed on their website.

Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki indirectly responded to that allegation in his weekly pastoral communication.

"What they neglected to say is that all of these priests are either dead or have been reported to the district attorney," said Listecki.