Group to protest ordination of child molester

Records show he now lives with another offender

He assaulted 11 year old & must register with the state for life

Still, he's set to be honored as a minister in Louisville on Sunday

SNAP to his congregation: "Why take risks with children's' safety?"

"It's good to forgive," group says, "but it's wrong to be reckless with kids"

Self help organizations urges church members to at least postpone their decision

Congregation should hold open public meeting with Q & A session before making "dangerous move"

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will protest outside a Louisville congregation that plans to ordain a man who is a convicted child molester.

They will also urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered crimes the man's crimes to come forward, get help and call police

WHEN
Sunday, Sept. 13, 10:45 a.m. (Church service starts at 11:00 a.m.)

WHERE
Outside the City of Refuge Worship Center, 1041 Goss (near Hickory & Spratt) in Louisville, KY (502-495-2603, cityofrefuge@yahoo.com)

WHO
Four sex abuse victims who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY
Despite considerable controversy, staffers at this church will ordain a convicted child molester, Mark Hourigan, as their minister today. They announced their plan a few days ago, and have discussed it on CNN television. In 1998, Hourigan was convicted on two counts of sexually assaulting an 11 year old.

On Thursday, SNAP held a news conference outside the church asking that the congregation delay its planned ordination and hold an open public meeting before making a final decision. SNAP wrote to the pastor with these requests but has received no reply.

On Friday, SNAP sent a letter to the Lexington-based Kentucky Council of Churches, urging it to speak out against Hourigan's ordination.

Also on Friday, according to the state's sex offender registry (http://kspsor.state.ky.us/), SNAP learned that Hourigan
-- lives with another sex offender, James Kaegin, at 3404 Rowena Rd. #2, Louisville,
-- is on the registry for life, a designation that's generally reserved for the most serious offenders, and
-- has apparently used an alias, Mark Edward Wells.

SNAP believes this is a reckless move that will only put kids in harm's way. Forgiving someone is a private and often healing act. But giving a known child predator an exalted title and role and access to kids is a public and always risky act.

The group considers the church's claim that Hourigan will sign a pledge to not be alone with kids to be meaningless.

SNAP is convinced that a truly remorseful and 'reformed' sex offender would not even seek a position like minister, just as a truly repentant and sober alcoholic wouldn't seek a job in a tavern.

A list of church staff is available at http://cityofrefugewc.org/pastoralstaff.aspx
The church's website is http://cityofrefugewc.org/default.aspx

More about this situation can be found at: http://www.theblogofrecord.com/2009/09/07/sex-offender-to-be-ordained-minister/

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=11094180

CONTACT
Colleen Powell 502 479 0246
Cal Pfeiffer 502 396 7178, caljpfeiffer@aol.com
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, Ann Brentwood 865 984 7092