Priest Who Worked in Atlanta Area Is Accused; SNAP Responds

SNAP
November 7, 2013

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ga_priest_who_worked_in_atlanta_area_is_accused_snap_responds

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Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell,SNAPdorris@gmail.com)

Catholic officials in Baltimore and Springfield MA are disclosing credible child sex abuse allegations against Fr. Michael Kolodziej who belongs to a religious order called the Franciscans and who worked at St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro, GA from 2010 until his recent suspension.

We urge Archbishop Wilton Gregory to post notices about Fr. Michael Kolodziej read at all Atlanta archdiocesan parishes.

While he may have been assigned to one church, we strongly suspect that Fr. Kolodziej spent at least some time at three or four other Atlanta area parishes. We believe notices should be read at churches throughout the archdiocese and posted in their bulletins.

We also urge Gregory will personally go to each parish where Fr. Kolodziej worked and beg victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call police.

Those who may have seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups must be gently but repeatedly prodded to do their civic and moral duty.

Posting a notice on a church website is easy. Personally taking steps to find and help victims should be easy, too. Both should be done, for the safety of kids, the healing of victims and the achieving of justice.

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com)