Newly convicted priest worked in Sacramento, AZ, AL

Newly convicted priest worked in Sacramento, AZ, AL

Allegations of abuse may go back decades 

Victim was Wisconsin 7-9 year old girl

Before plea deal, priest worked in parishes with schools, Sac Boy Scouts, Maricopa Children’s Hospital

This week, a former Sacramento, AZ, and AL priest will be sentenced in Wisconsin after pleading guilty to reduced charges of sexual assault on a child under 13.

Fr. Robert Marsicek pled guilty Milwaukee in October. He was facing charges of first degree sexual assault for sexually assaulting a seven to nine-year-old girl from 2007 to 2010. http://fox6now.com/2017/10/23/priest-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-school-aged-girl-pleads-guilty-to-amended-charges/

According to publicly available sources, however, as early as 2005, church officials had ordered Marsicek to “stop hugging and kissing children” and knew that he had “boundary issues” with children. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Marsicek_Robert_R_sds.htm

Members of SNAP, the Survivors Network (SNAPNetwork.org), say that the fact that Marsicek was placed in parish after parish shows exactly how Catholic Church officials feels about the children in their care.

“Why is a man with ‘boundary issues’ who hugs and kisses children inappropriately even allowed to be a priest at a parish with a school?” said Melanie Sakoda, SNAP East Bay Leader. “Instead of ordering him to stop hugging and kissing children, why not take Marsicek out of ministry and solve the problem at the source? Why is he spared and the children are led to the slaughter?'

The group also believes that the public is only beginning to learn the full story about what church officials knew about Marsicek.

“The criminal justice system is doing its job,” said Sakoda. “But when it comes to the cover-up, that will take the bravery of more victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to talk about what they saw and knew. It is safe to come forward and report to law enforcement.”

Marsicek’s full assignment history can be viewed here: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Marsicek_Robert_R_sds.htm. He worked in the Phoenix area for two years, Huntsville AL for 13 years, and Sacramento for 13 years.

The details of the charges may be viewed here: https://wccabeta.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2017CF000911&countyNo=40&index=0&mode=details

The redacted police report is available upon request.

Contacts:

California: Melanie Sakoda, SNAP East Bay Leader, (925) 708-6175, [email protected]

Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Leader, (949) 322-7434, [email protected]

Arizona: Tim Lennon, SNAP Arizona Leader, (415) 312-5820, [email protected]

Alabama: Barb Dorris, SNAP Executive Director, (314) 503-0003, [email protected]