Clergy sex abuse victims blast archdiocesan spending

Catholic officials spend thousands on political & legal battles elsewhere

SNAP also questions whether allegedly suspended priest has been ousted

Three recent church documents suggest recently-sued cleric is still working

Group urges Carlson to force accused predator to come back to US for treatment

It’s also worried that archdiocese admits paying nothing for therapy for pedophiles

WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
-- blast archdiocesan spending priorities and 3 specific recent expenditures, and
-- prod local Catholic officials to
               -- clarify whether an allegedly suspended priest is indeed suspended &
               -- force him to return to the US and enter a secure treatment center.

They will provide three recent church documents that suggest that the allegedly ousted priest is still in active ministry.

WHEN
TODAY, Thursday, Nov. 19 at 1:15 p.m.

WHERE
Outside the St. Louis archdiocesan headquarters, 4145 Lindell (near corner of Taylor) in St. Louis’ CWE

WHO
The victim who is suing the predator will speak. (He’ll remain anonymous – i.e., won’t use his name or face). With him will be two-three members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY
A recent parish bulletin, a church website and an archdiocesan list of priests “in service” all list Fr. Kevin Hederman and suggest that he’s still working as a priest, despite his alleged ‘suspension’ by archdiocesan officials in May because of a new child sex abuse lawsuit.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/05_06/2009_05_26_Killeen_CivilSuit.htm

Months ago, SNAP urged church officials to disclose Hederman’s whereabouts and insist that he enter a treatment program. The group’s requests have been ignored.

SNAP is also upset that newly released archdiocesan figures show that
--- no money is being spent on treatment for predator priests and
--- more money is being spent on defense lawyers (though the number of cases is declining).
These figures are especially troublesome, SNAP feels, because in recent weeks, the archdiocese has spent thousands in Maine on a political issue (gay marriage) and in Illinois on a legal issue (a lawsuit against the Belleville diocese involving Fr. Ken Roberts).

SNAP believes that if Carlson has extra funds, he should use the money to get treatment for victims and predators, and put predators in treatment centers.

SNAP feels the archdiocese is actually moving ‘backwards’ because , in years past, accused predator priests were quickly sent away for psychological assessment, which the group suspects has not happened with Hederman.

The group notes that in 2005 the archdiocese spent $500,000 to keep a convicted predator, Fr. Thomas Graham, out of jail.

CONTACT
David Clohessy 566-9790 cell, 645-5915 home, Barbara Dorris 862-7688, 503-0003 cell