GEORGIA
Fox 5
[with video]
ATLANTA – A sexual abuse survivor’s group alleges the Catholic Church knew about a so-called “predator priest” working in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The group claims church officials covered up the allegations against him.
“This six were secret until today, we question how many more are secret and our concern is that these men are still out there,” said Barbara Blaine, founder of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Blaine said she wants the Archbishop of Atlanta to do what 30 other bishops nationwide have done and make public any known sex offenders within the church.
“We say ‘Archbishop (Wilton Gregory) why haven’t you?’” Blaine demanded during a press conference on Monday from the steps of the Cathedral of Christ the King on Peachtree Road.
This fight is very personal for Blaine. She said that at the age of 12 she was rape by a member of her church. She reported it to Church officials years later, but nothing happened until she went on Oprah.
“Going on that show forced the church to remove him from ministry, but I found out later he continued to abuse more girls, seven years between the time I first reported and the time his name became public,” said Blaine.
Blaine believes there are priests who are still working who have sexually assaulted people, but are flying under the radar. She said the she found the names of six priests who have connections to Atlanta.
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