MD--They prod Archbishop to disclose more info

They prod Archbishop to disclose more info

“Post predator priests on websites,” they urge

“List should be permanent and kept current,” groups say

Activists want details more details about alleged murder of nun

WHAT

On the cusp of Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the US, holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, victims and supporters will urge Baltimore Catholic officials to

--disclose the names of other proven, admitted or credibly accused predators,

--permanently post church predators’ names on church websites and in church bulletins (like 30 US bishops have done), and

--“come clean” with more information on a nun’s unsolved murder.

The fliers also urge Catholic church members to

--question loved ones about these child molesting clerics (“Did any of these clerics ever hurt you?”) and

--prod anyone who has “seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes of cover ups to call law enforcement.”   

WHEN

Monday, Sept. 14 at 12:00 noon

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside the Baltimore archdiocesan headquarters (“Catholic Center”), 320 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201

WHO

A coalition survivors and supporters four organizations: Justice for Sister Cathy, MASS United, Stop the Silence, and SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)

WHY

1….While Catholic officials pretend that the on-going clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis is waning, thousands of proven, admitted and credibly accused predator priests are living among unsuspecting neighbors with little or no supervision. (Several hundred are on sex offender registries but most are not. And most have not been defrocked.) http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/09/10/pope-francis-remove-the-usas-predator-priests/

For the safety of parishioners, SNAP wants Pope Francis to “defrock, demote or discipline” bishops who continue to “protect predators and endanger kids,” especially by keeping names of child molesting clerics secret.

For more than 25 years, SNAP has repeatedly urged bishops to “aggressively seek out and help” the thousands of victims “still trapped in silence, shame and self-blame.” But bishops refuse to do anything but make the[U1]  most minimal moves. So SNAP is prodding rank-and-file Catholics to do this outreach.

Specifically, the organization is asking parishioners to circulate lists of predator priests in their dioceses and ask loved ones if any of them were hurt by any of the priests.

SNAP wants Archbishop William Lori to permanently post (and keep current) a list of the names, photos and whereabouts of all proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics. An independent archive and research organization, BishopAccountability.org, now lists 66 publicly accused predator priests in the Baltimore archdiocese.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/BaltimorePriests.htm

2…..The groups also want Lori to reveal when church officials first received reports of alleged child sex crimes and misdeeds by Fr. Joseph Maskell, who is considered by some to be a suspect in the murder of Sr. Catherine Cesnik. The groups also want to know how archdiocesan officials responded to those reports and if Sister Catherine was one of those who told church staff about Fr. Maskell.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/14/cesnik-nun-murder-maskell_n_7267532.html

CONTACT:

Frank Dingle 410-744-2398, Cell 443-996-8994, [email protected], [email protected]

Gemma Hoskins [email protected], Abbie Schaub [email protected]

Alan Horn 202-487-0444, [email protected]

Deb Silcox [email protected]