Protest of Priest Planned around Valley This Weekend

Valley News Live
April 15, 2016

http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Protest-of-Priest-planned-around-Valley-this-weekend-375874271.html

Crookston, Minn. (Valley News Live) Church goers in northwestern Minnesota can expect a protest of sorts this Sunday.

SNAP, the “Survivors Network of those abused by Priests”, plans to hand out leaflets opposing a decision by the church to lift the suspension of Father Joseph Jeyapaul. Jeyapaul was convicted of a sex crime in Greenbush, Minnesota and is now back in his home country of India.

Father Joseph Jeyapaul plead guilty to sexually abusing a teenage girl at his residence, next to the Catholic Church in Greenbush, Minnesota.

Jeyapaul served 4 years in prison and was sent back to his native Country of India. Church officials lifted a suspension against him and it’s expected he’ll soon begin will begin working in a church in India.

Barbara Dorris, SNAP: “And yet, everything we know about a sexual predator is that they will continue to molest throughout their lifetime. And to put this man back is really a slap in the face to victims everywhere.”

This Sunday, Dorris and Father Jeyapaul’s victim, plan to hand out leaflets to people following mass at Crookston.…. explaining the situation and asking other possible victims to come forward in an effort to put Jeyapaul back, behind bars.

Father Jeyapaul’s former supervisors worked in the Crookston diocese.

The current Bishop, Michael Hoeppner wrote a letter to all priests in the Crookston diocese to share with their parishioners that says in part:

“…because Father Jeyapaul has admitted to a felony involving sexual misconduct. I, as Bishop of Crookston I would never allow Father Jeyapaul to minister here.”

This Sunday the 2 protestors with SNAP will also visit the towns where Father Jeyapaul worked to hand out their leaflets….Thief River Falls, Middle River, Greenbush and Karlstad.

Those SNAP protestors are also scheduled to hand out leaflets at St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s churches in Grand Forks on Monday. They also plan to hold a news conference in front of the Fargo Diocese’s headquarters on Monday.