CHICAGO (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
They’re paying a suspended predator priest
Cleric faces at least three child sex allegations
Yet he’s on payroll of Burbank police department
SNAP: “The real culprit is Cardinal’s continuing secrecy”
In wake of Vatican action, Chicago church officials must act, group says
WHAT:
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
— harshly criticize Burbank officials for hiring a priest accused of molesting three boys,
— urge them to fire the priest and punish those responsible for the move, and
— prod Chicago archdiocesan officials to release more information about the priest.
WHEN:
Today, Thursday, Oct. 3 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Outside the Archdiocesan headquarters (‘chancery office’), 835 N Rush St Chicago, IL 60611
WHO:
Two – three clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY:
A suspended predator priest – accused of molesting at least three children – now sometimes works around children, because of Burbank city officials and Chicago Catholic officials, SNAP says.
Fr. Robert Stepek now works with the Burbank police department in Burbank “counseling grieving families” and “helping victims who sometimes included children,” according to today’s Chicago Tribune.
Both church and city authorities are to blame here and should take immediate action, SNAP says.
The group wants Burbank Mayor Harry Klein and Police Chief Bruce Radowicz to fire Fr. Stepek and Cardinal Francis George to publicly release details on Fr. Stepek’s alleged crimes and personally visit Fr. Stepek’s former parishes and explain why key archdiocesan staffer convinced Fr. Stepek is a child molester.
SNAP says that the on-going secrecy of top Chicago archdiocesan staffers – including Cardinal George – helps child molesters- perhaps dozens of them – get secular jobs, sometimes around kids.
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