Organizations Want Bishop to Release Names of Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse

KVEO
October 4, 2012

www.kveo.com/news/organizations-want-bishop-release-names-priest-accused-sexual-abuse

[with video]

RIO GRANDE VALLEY — Two organizations, SNAP and Call to Action, are asking Bishop Flores to release the names of priest who are accused of being charged with sexual abuse of children. The SNAP organization, group of individuals who say they were abused by priest, and Call to Action rallied in front of the San Juan Shire in Pharr on Wednesday morning and both believe there are priest in the church who have been credibly accused of abusing children. Both organizations want the names of those being accused to be made public so that children are protected in the future and that past victims can come forward. SNAP spokesperson Barbara Blaine stated, "Church officials have successfully shielded over 98% of the predator priests from law enforcement, but those priests still pose a risk to children and we believe at a bare minimum that Bishop Flores and the diocese has a duty to protect children."

Blaine says Bishop Flores met with them once said he would get back to them and never did. We attempted to reach Bishop Flores for comment, but he was unavailable instead Diocese Victim Assistance Coordinator Walter Lukaszek commented on the issue saying, "Anytime a credible report is made or actually any report is made about clergy sexual abuse, I'm involved with it immediately and if anybody has a credible allegation of child sexual abuse, that is a priest, they are no longer serving in this diocese."