MO--Victims to leaflet Cathedral
Victims to leaflet Cathedral
Two serial predator priests worked there
Both clerics were involved in recent settlement
They’re still priests, still alive and still in Kansas City
Group wants to warn parishioners & public about them
And victims vow: “After settlement, we’ll still be vigilant!”
SNAP: “Bishop should post predators’ names on his website
WHAT
As parishioners enter/leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hand out fliers. The leaflets urge parishioners to ask their loved ones if they were hurt by
--two credibly accused serial predator priests who worked at the cathedral and were involved in the recent $10 million settlement, or
--any of the other 23 publicly accused KC area predator priests.
For the safety of kids, they will also urge ‘
--KC's Catholic bishop to permanently post names of predator priests on his website, and
--anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes to call police, not priests.
WHEN
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 416 W. 12th in downtown Kansas City, MO
WHO
Three to four members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a KC man who recently endured the first pedophile priest abuse and cover up trial in Kansas City and a St. Louis woman who is SNAP’s long time outreach director
WHY
Last month, 32 clergy sex abuse victims settled with the KC diocese for nearly ten million dollars. Two of the accused priests involved in the settlement are Fr. Michael Tierney and Fr. Thomas M. Reardon.
Both are still priests, worked at the Cathedral, still live in Kansas City, and have been accused repeatedly of abuse and of working together, giving drugs and liquor and porn and ‘massages’ to the same boys, molesting them, and “rationalizing one another’s crimes to these scared and confused kids were taught since birth to respect, revere, trust and obey priests,” SNAP says. The group also maintains that “psychology and common sense strongly suggest that both Fr. Tierney and Fr. Reardon remain dangerous.”
Even after allegations against Fr. Tierney were made public in lawsuits a few years ago, Bishop Robert Finn did not promptly remove him from parish work. According to BishopAccountability.org, the “diocese learned of allegations (against him) in 2008” but “removed him in June 2011 for credible reports alleging sexual misconduct with minors in 1970s-1980s.”
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/09_10/2010_10_02_Morris_MissouriMan.htm
SNAP says that Bishop Finn should use pulpit announcements, parish bulletins and church websites to disclose where Fr. Tierney and Fr. Reardon are now, again, so that kids will be safer.
According to internet searches Fr. Tierney lives at 412 E. 64th Terrace in Kansas City MO and Fr. Reardon lives near the intersection of 13321 Birch St. (Apt 825) in the Deer Park subdivision in Leawood, KS - less than a mile from three schools: Oxford Park Academy (13200 Nall Ave., 913 897 2774), Overland Trail Elementary (6225 W 133rd, 913 239 7000), and Mission Trail Elementary (13200 Mission Rd., 913 239 6700).
Fr. Tierney was ordained in the Kansas City diocese in 1969 and worked most recently at Christ the King parish in Lee’s Summit. He also worked at the Kansas City Cathedral, St. Elizabeth, St. Patrick, St. Charles Borromeo (all in Kansas City), St. Joseph in St. Mary’s, Coronation of Our Lady in Grandview and Holy Spirit in Lee’s Summit.
Fr. Reardon was ordained in the Kansas City diocese in 1967 and worked most recently at both the Cathedral and St. Elizabeth’s for four years each. (Both parishes are in Kansas City). He also worked at St. John Francis Regis, St. Gabriel Archangel, the CYO and various archdiocesan offices (all in KC), Church of Santa Fe in Buckner, and Camp Little Flower in Raytown.
Photo of both are at BishopAccountability.org. Fr. Tierney was represented by KC lawyer Brian Madden (816 701 1100). Fr. Reardon was represented by KC lawyer John J. Gates (816 531 7200).
Lawyers for the diocese include David Frye ([email protected], 816.460.5726, 816.460.5732) and Mara Cohara ([email protected], 816.460.5760, 816.460.5413). Finn's attorney is Spencer Brown (816.421.4000, http://www.deacylaw.com/ourattorneys/spencer-j-brown/
The lead attorney for the victims is Rebecca Randles (816 510 2704 cell, [email protected]).
2) SNAP wants Bishop Robert Finn to do what 30 other bishops have done, and post on his website -- for the sake of public safety -- the names, whereabouts and priestly status of child molesting clerics who are or have been in the area. Over the past eight years, roughly 30 US Catholic prelates have taken this step, which SNAP considers a simple, inexpensive, common sense way to safeguard kids.
According to a Boston-based independent research group called BishopAccountabilty.org, there are 25 publicly accused Kansas City area Catholic clerics. SNAP notes that the actual number of area pedophile priests is likely much higher because BishopAccountability.org lists only those clerics against whom allegations have been lodged in the public domain – in civil lawsuits, criminal prosecution or news accounts.
In 2002, Baltimore became the first US diocese to disclose predators’ names. A good current example is the Philadelphia archdiocese: http://archphila.org/protection/Updates/update_main.htm.
Here’s a list of bishops who have posted predator priests’ names:
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/diocesan_and_order_lists.htm
Besides Fr. Tierney* and Fr. Reardon* the publicly accused KC MO area priests are: Fr. John C. Baskett, Fr. Michael Brewer, Fr. Thomas J. Cronin*, Fr. James H. Ford*, Fr. Martin Froeschel*, Fr. Richard Geimer, Bishop Joseph Hart*, Fr. Mark Honhart*, Fr. Sylvester Hoppe, Fr. Earl Johnson, Fr. James Lawbaugh, Fr. Francis E. McGlynn*, Fr. Hugh F. Monahan*, Fr. Stephen J. Muth, Fr. Thomas J. O’Brien*, Fr. Thomas Parrott, Fr. Bede Parry, Fr. Shawn Ratigan, Fr. Isaac True, Fr. John Tulipana,* Fr. James Urbanic, Fr. Thomas Ward, Fr. James Wegenek* and Fr. Francis L. Wise*.
(* means the cleric was involved in the recent $10 million settlement. The underlined priests are deceased.)
CONTACT ------- Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, [email protected]m, David Clohessy 314-566-9790, [email protected], [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