PEORIA (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: August 13, 2013
Statement by Jeff Jones of SNAP (815 985 9441, jjones1007@gmail.com)
I am proud and grateful to be here today. Like Andrew Ward, I have played a small role in helping to uncover the corruption and complicity of the Catholic hierarchy in the Peoria Diocese. I know, from painful first-hand experience, that Peoria Catholic officials fight long and hard against victims. So I am proud of Andrew and his parents. They have achieved something here that very few victims have achieved – some long over-due truth and justice that will help protect others by deterring future cover ups.
I’m here because Andrew has settled his lawsuit. It was a long, hard battle. It involved one predator priest, one corrupt bishop and one troubled diocese. It settled for $1.35 million.
But even more important, it means two significant documents are being publicly disclosed. The first is a 200 page deposition of Peoria’s former bishop. The second is the personnel file – or part of the personnel file – of a Peoria predator priest.
This is crucial. When victims sue, it’s usually because they desperately want Catholics and citizens to know the truth about this horror. Because Andrew is brave and smart and determined, more of the truth is being revealed today. Parents and parishioners in Peoria should join me in thanking the Ward family.
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