Priest Sex Abuse Victims Dispute Judge's Observations

By Angelica Duria
Fox 6
March 13, 2012

http://fox6now.com/2012/03/13/priest-sex-abuse-victims-dispute-judges-observations/

[with video]

MILWAUKEE — Local activists want the names of 100 alleged child abusers made public after a federal judge ruled that parents should not be concerned about sex abusers still working for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, otherwise called SNAP, is holding a news conference Tuesday to dispute the judge's observations.

Last week, in Bankruptcy Court, federal judge Susan Kelly says she had not found evidence that people should be concerned about current employees of the Milwaukee Archdiocese. The judge made comments in court weeks after advocates for sex abuse victims said the Archdiocese faced a personal safety crisis.

"From my independent review, without an agenda, my review shows there is no public safety concern. None whatsoever," Judge Susan Kelley said. Kelly claims that the comments made by SNAP are just a distraction.

Earlier this month, lawyers for victims of sexual abuse said there were 100 new sex offenders identified in more than 8,000 accounts of sexual abuse (in their claims). This number was well publicized.

Members of SNAP (The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) called those numbers a "personal safety crisis." The group wants an investigation into who these people are in case there are current members of the Archdiocese identified in court documents.

The church argues that all of the alleged sex offenders identified are either dead of have been turned into authorities. In court, Judge Kelley agreed with the church, claiming there is no public safety concern.

However, SNAP members are not convinced that there is no public safety concern and plan to speak out Tuesday in a news conference at 1:30 p.m. outside of St. Mary's Parish in Elm Grove.