CALIFORNIA
Pasadena Star-News
By Christopher Yee, Pasadena Star-News
POSTED: 04/14/17
SAN GABRIEL >> Representatives from a group advocating for justice for victims of sexual abuse by church leaders are calling for the San Gabriel Mission Church to retract an award intended to be given to an embattled former parish pastor.
According to a weekly bulletin, San Gabriel Mission Church intends to honor Bruce Wellems at its May 25 “Build the Dreams” scholarship fundraising dinner. Actor Edward James Olmos is also set to be honored at the dinner.
Wellems, a Roman Catholic priest originally from Chicago who was a member of the Claretian Missionaries, served as parish pastor in San Gabriel from 2012 to 2014 until he abruptly resigned.
Following his resignation, members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) published documents indicating Wellems admitted to sexually abusing another boy when he was 15 years old.
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