For Immediate Release:
Monday, April 28, 2008

For More Information:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314-566-9790
Lisa Kendzior of Dallas VOTF 817-749-1725 (home), 817-773-5907 (cell)
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP National Outreach Director 314-503 0003

Sex abuse victims confront national head of Episcopalians

They want admitted, convicted molester banned from retreats

Texas & Minnesota church officials kept clergyman’s crimes secret

At a bare minimum, support group wants public warned about molester

“He could still be assaulting kids now, so why put kids at risk?” SNAP asks

WHAT

After a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will try to hand out fliers to church goers attending a meeting with the nation’s top Episcopalian official..

The leaflets blast church officials for

-- letting an admitted, convicted child molester lead retreats on church property, and

-- failing to disclose his crimes to neighbors, residents and retreat attendees.

The fliers also

--warn church members about the predator,

-- urge them to pressure church authorities to act, and

-- be anyone who saw, suspected or suffered his sex crimes to call the police.

WHEN

Monday, April 28, 1:15 p.m.

WHERE

Outside St.. Thomas Episcopal Church, Inwood & Mockingbird in
Dallas.

WHO

Two-three sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time national director and a Dallas woman who’s a leader in a Catholic lay reform group called Voice of the Faithful (VOTF.org)

WHY

High-ranking church officials are letting a convicted, admitted and defrocked child molesting Episcopal minister lead retreats in at least two states, some at an Episcopal facility. The nation’s top Episcopal bishop, Kathleen Jefferts Schori, is speaking at t his church today and SNAP members hope to confront her about this.

Lynn C. Bauman (903 664 3011) holds retreats at three locations: The Praxis Learning Center in Telephone TX (in Fannin County, where he lives), The Way of The Wolf Retreat Center, Fredericksburg TX (830 997 0711) and the Episcopal House of Prayer (320 363 3293) in Collegeville MN.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/01_02/2007_02_06_Miller_RetreatFacilitators.htm

In 1999, Bauman admitted molesting an eight year old Texas boy on a retreat. The Dallas Morning News called him “a nationally known spiritual leader and author” and reported that he’s been accused of sexually abusing at least two other boys. Bauman was sentenced to probation for a decade and is still a registered sex offender. Prosecutors have said they don’t think he feels any remorse.

SNAP believes that Episcopal officials are being callous and reckless. They want national church officials to ban Bauman from Episcopal facilities and functions. They also want Texas and Minnesota church authorities to warn their flocks about him.

Bauman is scheduled to lead 4 retreats this summer, 2 in Texas and 2 in Minnesota http://www.wayofthewolf.com/retreat.htm His most recent Texas retreat was last weekend in San Marcos.

The publicity and promotion materials for Bauman’s retreats make no mention that he is an admitted child molester.

Within the past year, SNAP has written to and met with diocesan officials in Minnesota and Texas, to no avail. They’ve also protested outside at the diocesan headquarters in both states.

Bauman's blog is http://orientalorthodoxorder.blogspot.com/ These two outlets publish his books: http://www.praxisofprayer.com/ and http://www.whitecloudpress.com/product.asp?specific=jnoqiri8

Bauman’s brother, Ward Bauman (320 685 8064) heads the Episcopal House of Prayer.

CONTACT:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314-566-9790
Lisa Kendzior of Dallas VOTF 817-749-1725 (home), 817-773-5907 (cell)
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP National Outreach Director 314-503 0003