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	SNAP Blitzes Mass with Bourque Fliers By Maria Baran Belleville News-Democrat May 29, 2006 http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/14692548.htm BELLEVILLE - Members of a group protesting sexual abuse by priests handed out fliers to parishioners leaving 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter, protesting the presence in Belleville of a priest who is an admitted child molester. Five members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests handed out fliers concerning The Rev. Real "Ray" Bourque, a defrocked and retired priest living in Belleville. In the handout, members of SNAP criticized the most Rev. Edward Braxton, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville, for not removing Bourque from the St. Henry Oblate Retirement Home on N. 60th Street, where he has resided since 2002. SNAP member Fred Carr caught up with Braxton outside of the church. He said Braxton declined to meet privately with members of SNAP because he had other appointments. Carr said Braxton told him he would deal with Bourque but not because of requests from the group or because of media attention. Parishioner Betty Sandy of Belleville said she was not going to read the flier. "I think it's not very tasteful to stand in front of the church," she said. "And it's not fair to the bishop who wasn't here when this happened." Braxton came to the diocese last year. Bourque, 78, has said he molested boys in the late 1970s and early 1980s while a priest in Massachusetts and Maine. Bourque, who was never charged with a crime, was treated for pedophilia in 1995 in Maryland. He has declined to comment. A news release from SNAP stated that the group "feels this is a terribly dangerous situation and that Bishop Edward Braxton should take steps to place Bourque in a secular, secure facility for child sex offenders and reach out to any possible local victims." Many church-goers filed out of Mass on the sunny morning without breaking a stride, folding the flier as they continued walking to their cars. Several parishioners, who said they wished not to be named, said they did not appreciate the spectacle by SNAP members outside of church. One person said the crimes occurred so long ago that everyone deserves a second chance. Carr also said Braxton alluded to Bourque's poor health, which would prevent him from being a danger to society. Braxton could not be reached for comment. When Braxton took office last year, the Belleville Diocese had already been battling sexual abuse by clergymen for more than a decade. Former Belleville Diocese Bishop Wilton Gregory, now archbishop of Atlanta, was lauded nationally for his no-tolerance stance against abuse, and has said that had he known about Bourque's transfer to Belleville, he would have tried to prevent it. As of 2004, 14 priests and a deacon had been removed in the Belleville Diocese due to the scandal. Contact reporter Maria Baran at mbaran@bnd.com or 239-2562. Previous Story: • Group Asks Madigan's Help to Move Priest
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