Accused priest worked in Las Vegas

• Accused priest worked in Las Vegas
• He’s being sued for molesting in Hawaii
• But there's been no mention of this in Nevada
• And he’s living among unsuspecting families now
• Support group blasts Catholic officials for “recklessness & secrecy”
• SNAP says higher number of predators from elsewhere come to Las Vegas
• It wants local church officials to expose them, “reach out” to others they’ve hurt

What
Holding signs & childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
--disclose that another former Las Vegas priest is being sued for alleged child sex crimes, and
--urge church officials to “reach out” to others who may have seen, suspected, or suffered.
They also want the local Catholic bishop to
-- reveal – once and for all – the names of every child molesting cleric who lives/works or lived/worked in this area, and
--explain why his diocese seems to be or have been a “dumping ground” for a disproportionate number of pedophile priests.

When
Wednesday, June 20 at 12:15 p.m.

Where
Outside the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 55 E Reno Ave (near corner of Giles Street)

Who
Two-three clergy sex abuse victims and supporters who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a Chicago woman who is the organization’s founder and president

Why
Yet another Catholic priest who spent time in Las Vegas is being sued for alleged child sex crimes. Like hundreds of others, his case has been kept secret – even now – by Catholic officials. And like hundreds of others, he walks free today, living among unsuspecting families who know little or nothing about the accusations against him.
He is Rev. Maurice G. McNeely, who worked at Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer in Las Vegas.

But in 1976, he allegedly molested a now 48-year-old man when he was a teenager in Hawaii.

In 2011 a civil child sex abuse and cover up suit was filed against McNeely and the Bismark diocese. As best SNAP can tell, Catholic officials have done nothing to alert parents, parishioners or the public about these allegations.
McNeely was originally ordained in the Bismark diocese and now lives in a Detroit suburb. From 1974 to 2001 he worked in Hawaii.

Leaders of SNAP are upset because the secrecy – by bishops in HI, NV, ND, and MI – “leaves kids at risk,” the group believes. Such secrecy “enables predators to keep assaulting kids,” and violates the US bishops’ child sex abuse policy which calls for “openness and transparency” in child sex cases, SNAP says.

SNAP is calling on Las Vegas Bishop Joseph Pepe to personally visit every Nevada parish where McNeely spent time and beg current and former employees and parishioners to call police if they have seen, suspected or suffered McNeely’s crimes.

“Las Vegas catholic officials let McNeely work in Nevada. He may have hurt Las Vegas kids. He may be hurting Michigan kids now. So church officials have a moral duty to seek out and help others McNeely may have injured,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP’s director. “We suspect McNeely could be prosecuted for other offenses, so Bishop Pepe can’t sit back and do nothing. He should help McNeely’s victims and help law enforcement pursue McNeely and protect others.”

Here’s a partial list of proven, admitted and credible/publicly accused abusive clerics from other states who have lived/worked in the Las Vegas diocese: Fr. Gus Krumm of California, Fr. Theodore Anthony Geerts of Iowa, Fr. Edmund Boyle of Washington, Fr. James Patrick Feeney of Wisconsin, Fr. Mark Thomas Roberts of New Guinea, Fr. Theodore Meisner and Fr. Robert A. Bowling of Kentucky, and Fr. Bede Parry, Fr. John C. Basket and Fr. James Beine (a.k.a. Marr James), all of Missouri. Another priest, Fr. George Chaanine, worked at several churches elsewhere and pleaded guilty to assaulting an adult female he was in a sexual relationship with in 2007.

The victim's attorney is Adam Horowitz of Miami (305-931 2200, [email protected]) and Peter T. Cahill of Hawaii. Fr. McNeely’s lawyer is Michael H. Tsuchida of Honolulu (808)524-2466, [email protected]
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2011_10_01_HonoluluStarAdvertiser_SuitAlleges_Maurice_McNeely_1.htm