KANSAS CITY (MO)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Victims to leaflet Cathedral
Two serial predator priests worked there
Both clerics were involved in recent settlement
They’re still priests, still alive and still in Kansas City
Group wants to warn parishioners & public about them
And victims vow: “After settlement, we’ll still be vigilant!”
SNAP: “Bishop should post predators’ names on his website
WHAT
As parishioners enter/leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hand out fliers. The leaflets urge parishioners to ask their loved ones if they were hurt by
–two credibly accused serial predator priests who worked at the cathedral and were involved in the recent $10 million settlement, or
–any of the other 23 publicly accused KC area predator priests.
For the safety of kids, they will also urge ‘
–KC’s Catholic bishop to permanently post names of predator priests on his website, and
–anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes to call police, not priests.
WHEN
Sunday, Nov. 2 at 11:30 a.m.
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 416 W. 12th in downtown Kansas City, MO
WHO
Three to four members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a KC man who recently endured the first pedophile priest abuse and cover up trial in Kansas City and a St. Louis woman who is SNAP’s long time outreach director
WHY
Last month, 32 clergy sex abuse victims settled with the KC diocese for nearly ten million dollars. Two of the accused priests involved in the settlement are Fr. Michael Tierney and Fr. Thomas M. Reardon.
Both are still priests, worked at the Cathedral, still live in Kansas City, and have been accused repeatedly of abuse and of working together, giving drugs and liquor and porn and ‘massages’ to the same boys, molesting them, and “rationalizing one another’s crimes to these scared and confused kids were taught since birth to respect, revere, trust and obey priests,” SNAP says. The group also maintains that “psychology and common sense strongly suggest that both Fr. Tierney and Fr. Reardon remain dangerous.”
Even after allegations against Fr. Tierney were made public in lawsuits a few years ago, Bishop Robert Finn did not promptly remove him from parish work. According to BishopAccountability.org, the “diocese learned of allegations (against him) in 2008” but “removed him in June 2011 for credible reports alleging sexual misconduct with minors in 1970s-1980s.”
SNAP says that Bishop Finn should use pulpit announcements, parish bulletins and church websites to disclose where Fr. Tierney and Fr. Reardon are now, again, so that kids will be safer.
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