Convicted Pedophile Priest Wants out of Prison

SNAP
October 29, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ky_priestwants_out_of_prison

We're worried, but not surprised, that Fr. Shook, a convicted child molester, wants to be released from prison. We hope he fails in this premature effort.

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We hope that Kentucky officials will keep Fr. Shook behind bars for as long as possible.

Only the most reckless or foolish would believe that six months in prison would magically cure a pedophile of his compulsion to sexually assault kids.

Letting Fr. Shook out so quickly would rub salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of those he molested. It would also likely deter other victims from reporting predators to police, because they'll surely feel "What's the use? These pedophiles always get breaks and special treatment and light sentences."

This move by Fr. Shook should prod others who saw, suspected or suffered his crimes to call law enforcement right away. We can’t be complacent. It’s our civic and moral duty to share what we know or suspect about child sex crimes or cover ups with police and prosecutors. It’s possible that Fr. Shook could be charged with and convicted of more child sex crimes. And that would keep him locked up longer, which would make kids safer.

So we beg anyone who might know anything about clergy sex crimes and cover ups in Louisville – especially current and former Catholic church employees – to find the courage to speak up quickly.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)