INDIANA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Victims blast church over 2 predator priests
They’re worried about where accused clerics are now
Bishop should visit every parish where the men worked
And he should beg “victims, witnesses & whistleblowers” to “speak up”
Group also wants diocese to post names of child molesting clerics on websites
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, advocates for clergy sex abuse victims will blast church officials for their apparent inaction about two recently revealed predator priest. They will urge Ft. Wayne church officials to;
–reveal where two recently suspended predator priests are now,
–put them in remote treatment centers so kids area safer, and
–post the names of all credibly accused clerics.
The victims will also beg current and former church members and staff to contact independent sources (like therapists, police, prosecutors or their group) with any suspicions or information about clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Ft. Wayne-South Bend diocese.
WHEN
Thursday, June 19, at 10:30 am
WHERE
Outside of the Fort Wayne Catholic diocese headquarters, 915 S. Clinton St (corner of Washington) in Fort Wayne, IN
WHO
Two members of a self help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
Two Fort Wayne area Catholic priests were recently revealed to have credible child abuse allegations against them. They are Fr. Cornelius J. Ryan (of the Holy Cross order) and Fr. James F. Seculoff (of the Ft. Wayne-South Bend diocese cleric).
Fr. Ryan spent roughly twenty years working in Africa, where the alleged abuse took place.
In January, Fr. Seculoff was removed from his position as pastor of St. Patrick’s parish (260-744-1450, st.patrick.f.w@gmail.com), after an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was found credible. Since then three more victims of his have come forward.
Church officials have said little or nothing about where the priests are now. SNAP believes parents, parishioners and the public deserve to know this, and that such transparency is mandated by a 2002 US bishops abuse policy. SNAP also says that the clerics belong in “remote, secure, independent treatment centers so that kids will be safer.”
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