Lawsuit Alleges Negligence by Church Officials, SNAP Responds

SNAP
February 14, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/il_lawsuit_alleges_negligence_by_church_officials_snap_responds

Two lawsuits against a church volunteer for child sexual abuse also claim that officials at Willow Creek Community Church were negligent.

[Chicago Tribune]

Robert Sobczak pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an 8 year old boy while at a church program for kids with special needs. Sobczak was a volunteer for the program and was never supposed to be alone with the children. Another family filed a suit against Sobczak for abusing their son when he was 9.

Willow Creek Community Church officials and law enforcement need to urgently investigate how Sobczak was able to be alone with the children. Those who are responsible for this gross negligence should be immediately be fired and reported to law enforcement.

We are grateful for the brave victims who spoke up and told their parents and for their parents for alerting officials. Church officials did the right thing by holding a meeting to inform parent about the abuse claims and we hope they will continue to do outreach to find other victims and those who may have covered up these crimes.