Clergy sex victims release new legal records

In never-before-released deposition, predator takes the 5th

Documents also show church was warned about abusive cleric

SNAP challenges Orlando bishop to “come clean” & “reach out”

Wenski also pledged to write parishes about another pedophile priest

But one full year later, he still refuses to alert the public, support group says

Group urges “victims, witnesses & whistleblowers” to “come forward, call police”

WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, leaders of a support group for clergy molestation victims will release, for the first time, two documents involving appending child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit. Among them are<
-- a 12 page deposition in which an accused predator priest repeatedly refuses to answer questions, and
-- a 25 page deposition by a victim’s mother which shows that Orlando Catholic officials were warned years ago about the predator.

The victims will also blast Orlando’s Catholic bishop for
-- continuing to ‘err on the side of secrecy and silence’ in clergy sex cases,
-- ignoring the Pope’s year old admonition to “do everything possible” to help victims, &
-- refusing to post names of proven, admitted & credibly accused pedophile priests on his website.

WHEN
TODAY, Friday, April 24, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE
Outside the diocesan chancery office, 50 East Robinson (corner of Rosalind) in Orlando

WHO
3-4 members of a support group for clergy molestation victims called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time director

WHY
At least two child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits have been settled against the Orlando diocese for the crimes of Fr. Vernon Uhran. However, until today, no evidence has public surfaced showing that Uhran actually molested kids or that his diocesan supervisors had been warned about his sexual misconduct years earlier. Proof of both facts is contained in legal documents SNAP recently obtained and is disclosing today.

In a deposition, Uhran repeatedly invokes his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In another deposition, a mother of a victim swears she told the-Bishop John Borders of Uhran’s crimes long ago.

Bishop Thomas Wenski has been criticized often by SNAP, especially for what the group calls his ‘on going secrecy.’ Six years ago, America’s bishops pledged to be ‘open and transparent’ about clergy sex cases. SNAP believes Wenski should have publicized allegations much earlier against Uhran, Fr. Jose Mena and Fr. Carlos Bedoya.

Uhran is now 69, and lives in the Nashville, TN. His victims have been represented by Miami attorney Adam Horowitz 305 931 2200.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_01_06/2005_03_02_Dymond_TampaMan.htm

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/clermont/orl-priestabuse2608apr26,0,348757.story

CONTACT
David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell,) Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747)