GA--Six Georgia predator priests ‘outed’.

Six Georgia predator priests ‘outed’

They all worked in Atlanta archdiocese

But none have attracted local attention

Victims prod Catholic officials to take action And they push for new state law to help expose pedophiles

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose names and key information about six predator priests have molested and been "outed" elsewhere and who spent time in Atlanta but have gotten little - if any - public attention in Georgia.

They will also prod church officials – Catholic and others - to -

- back a proposed state law that would enable more victims to expose more sexual predators, and

-- post on church websites, “for the safety of kids,” the names, photos and whereabouts of child molesting clerics.

WHEN Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE

Outside the Atlanta Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30305

WHO

Three-four adults who were molested as kids by Catholic priests and now belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) including a Missouri woman who is the organization's long time outreach director.

WHY SNAP has discovered six proven, admitted or credibly accused predator priests who assaulted kids elsewhere and spent time in Atlanta. Though the allegations against them generated mainstream media coverage in other states, the men remain largely “under the radar” in Georgia.

SNAP wants Georgia’s two Catholic bishops to warn the public about these clerics and aggressively seek out anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered their crimes. SNAP says these new names show why it’s important to reform Georgia’s archaic, arbitrary and predator-friendly” statute of limitations which prevents most child sex abuse victims from taking legal action against the predators who hurt them. The group wants Georgia religious officials to lobby for the “Hidden Predators Bill (HB 17), sponsored by Rep. Jason Spencer. It would create a two year “window” during which anyone who was abused at any time by any predator could use the civil courts to warn parents and the public about those who commit and conceal child molesters.

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/bill-seeks-more-time-for-sexual-abuse-victims-to-p/njK7T/

All too often, SNAP says, church figures fight against stronger child safety laws, fearing abuse and cover up lawsuits. But “if religious officials aren’t hiding child sex crimes - and if they act responsibly when abuse is suspected or uncovered - they have nothing to fear from this legislation,” SNAP says.

The bill was discussed earlier this month at a subcommittee hearing.

The six “under the radar” predator priests who worked &/or lived in Atlanta include: Fr. Charles G. Coyle, Fr. Charles Arnold Bartles, Fr. William Groves, Fr. Jonathan W. Franklin, Fr. Anthony Jablonowski and Fr. Robert D. Huneke. Two of them (Groves and Jablonowski) were criminally convicted. One (Franklin) was charged but died before trial and another (Huneke) was mentioned in a grand jury investigation. (Photos of Jablonowski and Huneke are available at BishopAccountability.org.)

SNAP also wants the Catholic bishops of Atlanta and Savannah to permanently post on their websites the names, photos and work histories of every child molesting cleric who has ever spent time in the state (whether living or deceased, whether diocesan or religious order, whether priest, nun, bishop, brother or seminarian). Roughly 30 US bishops have done this. It’s “the quickest, cheapest and best way to protect kids immediately protect kids from predator priests,” SNAP says.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/diocesan_and_order_lists.htm (For more information on House Bill 17, please visit www.voicetoday.org/act, call VOICE Today at 678.578.4888, or email [email protected].)

CONTACT Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, [email protected], David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected].