DOMINICA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014
Statement by Judy Jones of St. Louis, Midwest Associate Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 636 433 2511, SNAPjudy@gmail.com )
A recently defrocked abusive Dominica predator priest faces credible allegations from at least two adults who say he molested them as children. Bishop Gabriel Malzaire should apologize for and explain why he’s been keeping this fact secret for months, and disclose how many individuals have reported being sexually assaulted by Reginald LaFleur. His victims are feeling extremely dismissed and very disappointed with the bishop’s response to his removal from the priesthood. They are feeling re-abused again by the church officials.
Through his secrecy, he has basically helped LaFleur gain access to more vulnerable kids. Adults are far more apt to believe child sex abuse allegations when there are multiple accusers. Bishop Malzaire, by his silence, has helped deceive parents, police, prosecutors, parishioners and the public that only one person was accusing LaFleur when he’s known, for months, that at least two are accusing LaFleur.
We call on the bishop to “come clean” about LaFleur and about how many other clerics current and former, living and deceased, diocesan and religious order are proven, admitted and credibly accused sex offenders. That’s the very least he should do. That’s the first step toward preventing more crimes and cover ups in the future.
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