For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

For More Information:
David Clohessy (National Director, SNAP) 314 566 9790 cell
Barbara Blaine (President, SNAP) 312 399 4747
Barbara Dorris (Outreach Director, SNAP) 314 503 0003 cell, 314 862 7688

Clergy sex abuse victims tell Giuliani "Put up or shut up"

They challenge him to file bar complaint against Long Island prosecutor

After sidewalk protest, group will try to hand deliver a letter to his staffers

"If your buddy's been falsely accused, you have a duty to take action," SNAP says

They also want Rudy to address cover up charges, not just abuse charges, against pal

Prez hopeful keeps paying suspended cleric & faces protests in 2 Missouri cities today

WHAT
After a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will try to hand deliver a letter to Rudy Giuliani's office, urging the presidential candidate to file a formal complaint against a New York prosecutor or 'stop denying' that Giuliani's close friend molested boys and helped cover up child sex crimes by other Catholic clergy.

WHEN
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE
On sidewalk outside Giuliani Partnership, 5 Times Square Plaza, (near W. 42nd & 7th Avenue) in New York City

 WHO
Several clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Chicago social worker who is the organization's founder and long-time president

VISUALS
The group will hold signs and childhood photos and a picture of the accused priest.

WHY
SNAP challenging Giuliani to "put up or shut up" about allegations against Msgr. Alan Placa, who was suspended by his bishop yet remains on Giuliani's payroll. Giuliani insists Placa's been falsely accused. 

SNAP wants Giuliani to either file a bar complaint against the Long Island prosecutor who publicized the allegations against the Placa or admit that the priest is guilty. As a citizen, a lawyer, an ex-prosecutor and former public official, the group believes Giuliani has a moral and legal duty to take action if he really believes prosecutors and grand jurors have done an injustice to Placa.

In recent months, SNAP has urged Giuliani to fire Placa and apologize for his recklessness.

A 2003 Long Island grand jury report accuses Placa of sexually abusing children and helping "cover up the sexual abuse of children by other priests" He "was part of a three-person team that handled allegations of abuse by clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre" that "resulted in the prevention, hindrance and delay in the discovery of criminal conduct by priests." In 2002, Placa's bishop suspended him from active ministry. He's been on the payroll of Giuliani Partners since then.

Giuliani and Placa are boyhood friends and have remained close throughout their adult lives.

Placa also urged bragged of how Rockville Centre's handling of abuse claims had resulted in the "lowest ratio of losses to assets of any diocese" and that "In the past 10 years, I have been involved in more than two hundred such cases (across) the country." Placa also worked for a Worcester, Mass. Center for pedophile priests. According to the grand jury, several adults testified that they were molested as kids by Placa, including an Albany man named Richard Tollner and two others.

Similar events are being held at two Giuliani campaign stops today in Missouri.

SNAP's letter to Giuliani was sent yesterday by fax and e mail to his campaign headquarters. A copy of the letter is available on SNAP's website: SNAPnetwork.org

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/05_06/2007_06_22_Koppelman_GiulianisLoyalty.htm