For more information:
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP President 312 399 4747 cell
Jeff Jones of Peoria, SNAP Peoria Director 815 985 9441 cell
Attorney Jeff Anderson of St Paul MN 612 817 8665 cell
Attorney Fred Nessler of Springfield 217 698 0202

Clergy sex abuse victim exposes predatory Peoria priest

Nine year old boy was molested until 2001 by cleric who’s never been sued

Catholic officials knew pastor was predator more than a decade earlier, suit says

WHAT
At a sidewalk conference, a clergy molestation victim’s parents & attorney will disclose and discuss a new child sex abuse lawsuit against the Peoria Diocese that

-- describes relatively recent child sex crimes (1997-2001),

-- involving a recently retired priest who’s never been sued or ‘exposed’ before, and

-- says local Catholic officials knew for a decade about the priest’s abuse.

WHEN
Wednesday, June 11, 1:30 p.m.

WHO
The young victim’s parents and attorney, along with other clergy molestation victims, who belong to a self help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and supporters and family members, including SNAP’s president and founder.

WHERE
Outside the Peoria Courthouse at 324 Main St, Peoria IL

VISUALS
SNAP leaders will hold signs and childhood photos and give out copies of legal documents

WHY
For four years (1997-2001), starting when he was nine, Andrew Ward was repeatedly sexually abused by Msgr Thomas Maloney at Epiphany parish in Normal. According to the new lawsuit, Maloney also sexually abused at least one child in the 1970s and another girl who, as an adult in 1995-96, reported to the Diocese that Maloney molested her as a child. The suit says church officials refused, however, to warn others about Maloney.

According to the Official Catholic Directory, Maloney worked at parishes in Peoria (St. Columba’s, 1969-1972), East Peoria (St. Monica’s, 1973), Normal (Epiphany, 1974-76 and again from 1997-2002), and Chenoa, (St. Joseph Church, 1977- 95). Now 72, he retired in 2003.

Ward, now 20, lives in Michigan His suit, filed today in Peoria county court, seeks unspecified damages. He is represented by St Paul attorney Jeff Anderson (612 817 8665) and Springfield attorney Fred Nessler (217-698-0202 office) who have handled thousands of clergy molestation cases.

SNAP is a national support group for men and women victimized by clergy (SNAPnetwork.org). It has been highly critical of Bishop Jenky for his allegedly “unChristian” hardball legal tactics which the group feels deters victims and witnesses from reporting known and suspected abuse.

CONTACT
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP President 312 399 4747 cell
Jeff Jones of Peoria, SNAP Peoria Director 815 985 9441 cell
Attorney Jeff Anderson of St Paul MN 612 817 8665 cell
Attorney Fred Nessler of Springfield 217 698 0202