IL--Victims want better child abuse laws
Victims want better child abuse laws
In wake of Hastert, they say: “Give us more time”
Group backs new federal plan & seeks state reform too
SNAP cites case of accused Chicago youth activist & priest
He admits repeatedly abusing a boy & can’t work in LA archdiocese
But a year ago, Cupich let him work in Chicago but then reversed himself
Now, priest still lives here while his victim waits for months for church decision
WHAT:
Holding signs and childhood photos, in the wake of Dennis Hastert’s sentencing, abuse victims will
--announce their support for a new federal proposal to reform the statute of limitations,
--urge Illinois lawmakers to also relax the state’s “predator-friendly” abuse laws, and
--discuss an admitted offender in Chicago who is still a Catholic priest while his victim waits, for over a year, on a decision by Chicago’s top Catholic official
WHEN:
Thursday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m.
WHERE:
On the sidewalk outside the Chicago Archdiocese Headquarters, 835 N. Rush St. in Chicago
WHO:
Three or four adults who were abused as children and/or supporters who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY:
1) Last week, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced a new proposal to reform the federal statute of limitations on child sex crimes. SNAP wants Illinois public officials, especially those who repeatedly deplored Denny Hastert’s crimes in the news media recently, to push hard for the measure’s adoption.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/sen-schumer-pushes-extend-statute-sex-crimes-victims-article-1.2609238
2) SNAP also wants the state legislature to adopt the recommendation of Illinois State Attorney General and ICASA Executive Director who yesterday called for removing statutes of limitation for sex crimes against children.
The group says “the archaic, arbitrary, predator-friendly statute of limitations is the single greatest obstacle to stopping child sex crimes” and notes that several large states, including Pennsylvania and New York, are debating relaxing their statutes.
3) A Chicago priest, Fr. Bruce Wellems, admits repeatedly sexually abusing a seven-year-old boy year ago. He’s been forbidden to minister in Los Angeles. But now, he lives and works in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. A year ago, Archbishop Blasé Cupich removed his “faculties,” which means he purportedly can’t present himself as a priest. Cupich’s hand-picked abuse panel may recommend putting Fr. Wellems back in a parish.
Initially, when confronted by news media, Fr. Wellems ‘attacked the messenger,’ saying reports of his abusive acts had “no factual basis.”
The victim, Eric Johnson (who now lives in Colorado) continues to wait for a decision. Johnson considered a civil lawsuit but was told the statute of limitations had expired. (A statement he wrote today will be read and handed out at the news conference.)
It’s precisely this kind of uncertainty, SNAP says, that courts could clear up, but only if statutes of limitations are “eliminated or expanded.”
At one point, Fr. Wellems was the executive director of Boys Town Chicago, Inc, a short-term residential assessment center and worked at Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart parish, both in the ‘Back of the Yards’ neighborhood.
He belongs to a religious order known as the Claretians. Last August, despite his abuse admission, Fr. Wellems moved up in the church hierarchy when he was elected to the Claretians’ new five-person national Provincial Council, a position he still apparently holds: http://www.claretiansusa.org/our-council/
He also had an audience last year with Pope Francis in Rome.
SNAP wants both the Claretians and Chicago archdiocesan officials to reach out to potential victims and parishioners who are hurt and confused and make public announcements about Fr. Wellems and disclose the names of all Claretians who are proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesters.
Copies of letters to and from church officials will be available at the news conference and at BishopAccountability.org
CONTACT:
Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Bill Reidy (847-651-2661), David Clohessy (314-566-9790, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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