Sex abuse victims seek help from five bishops

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
March 10, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/sex_abuse_victims_seek_help_from_five_bishops

Sex abuse victims seek help from five bishops

Convicted pedophile priest now runs a church

He faces three known accusers, all in Colorado

Cleric plead guilty to a felony & has been sued twice

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is asking Catholic bishops in five states to warn their flocks about a convicted predator priest who now heads a non-denominational North Carolina church.

Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are asking bishops in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Colorado to “spread the word” about William Groves, an ex-priest who pled guilty to molesting a boy in 1990 in Pueblo, Colorado.

“Groves has worked in each of these dioceses and had access to children. We feel these bishops have a duty to use their resources to urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered abuse by Groves to come forward and report to police,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP. “That kind of outreach is the best way to help parents protect their kids and help police catch pedophiles.”

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/member/psearch.jsp

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_04_29_Mitchell_TwoAbusive_Groves_and_Galvan.htm

Groves is now the paid president of the Spiritual Light Center (80 Heritage Hollow Drive, 828-369- 3065 - slcfranklin@ frontier.com) in Franklin, North Carolina. For years, Catholic officials claim they didn’t know where he was.

In November, Groves reportedly tried to persuade his church to start a children's program. He has also claimed to be a drug and alcohol counselor. Reportedly, Groves left the priesthood after his second lawsuit involving a minor. 

“Bishops hire, train and transfer priests, their responsibility should not end after priests leave the priesthood,” said Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP's outreach director. “We hope these bishops will show real courage and compassion by working hard to find and help other victims who continue to suffer in silence, shame and self-blame.”

“Sadly, the culture of secrecy about and cover up of pedophile priests by Catholic officials is long-standing and on-going,” said David Fortwengler of Charlotte, a SNAP volunteer.

“No matter who heads a particular diocese, it will take continued and increased vigilance and skepticism and courage to protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded” added Neil Evans of Asheville, another SNAP volunteer.

“It's a travesty to see a man like this find his way back into a spiritual setting with the possibility of being in the company of the vulnerable,” said  Charles L. Bailey, Jr. of Charlotte, a SNAP volunteer leader. “We have to stand up and be their advocates as they cannot. We know better and therefore have a duty to do better. We must protect all children and the vulnerable from predators, anything less is shameful.”

Other officers at the Franklin church include Kay Smith (vice president, 828-369-8741), Millard Deutsch (secretary), Linda Ramsey (treasurer 828-524-0672), Arthur Cataldo (vice-treasurer, 828-349-3618), and Raymond Braziel (trustee at large, 828-369-3273 ,  282-349-0913).

A copy of SNAP’s letter, sent today by email and fax to all five bishops, is below.