Clergy sex victims leaflet about two predators

One “outed” just yesterday, the other “outed” last week

Both are credibly accused Jesuit clerics who hurt students

SNAP challenges church officials to disclose their whereabouts

“Why the continuing reckless secrecy?” support group questions

If these priests aren’t safe at schools, they belong in treatment, SNAP says

WHAT
Handing fliers to passers-by, clergy sex abuse victims will insist that Catholic authorities
-- put two credibly accused Catholic clerics in a treatment center,
-- disclose both of their whereabouts for the last several years, and
-- explain and apologize for Jesuit officials’ secrecy surrounding the allegations against them

They will also
-- prod parents of kids who attend Jesuit schools to complain to the local Jesuit headquarters, and
-- urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered Jesuit crimes or misdeeds to call police and get help

WHERE: Outside Loyola University, on Sheridan Road, in front of foot entrance to campus, across from L station

WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, May 4 at 11:15 am

WHO: Three or four adults who were molested as kids and who belong to a self help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time director

WHY: On Monday, a former Loyola University and Loyola academy staffer, Fr. Larry Reuter, was “outed” as a credibly accused abusive cleric, allegedly having had a sexual relationship with a teenaged student. Even though the offense was years ago and a settlement was paid, Jesuit officials kept it hidden for years. According to the Chicago Tribune, “Reuter worked at Loyola University Chicago from 1990 until 2002 and Loyola University Medical Center from 2002 and led services at Ascension Catholic Church in Oak Park.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-loyola-academy-president-20100503,0,7266505.story

And last week, a lawsuit was filed alleging that another Jesuit, who also accused of sexually assaulting a 20 years old college student. He’s Fr. Daniel O’Connell, who worked at Loyola University Chicago for almost two decades.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/nyregion/30jesuit.html

In both cases, church and school officials kept the allegations quiet for years.

Yesterday, Jesuit officials claim they essentially stumbled on allegations against Reuter in their files, even though the alleged abuse happened in the 1990s. SNAP members don’t believe this, and claim church and school employees who knew about the settlement but kept it hidden should be severely disciplined.

The Jesuits also admit Reuters was suspended in March, but nothing was announced until yesterday. SNAP believes that such delays give predators ample time to destroy evidence, fabricate alibis, intimidate witnesses, threaten victims, hurt others, flee the country and violate church pledges of “openness” in sex abuse cases.

For the sake of public safety, SNAP also wants the current and recent whereabouts of both predators disclosed and wants Jesuits to force them into a treatment facility. SNAP also wants Jesuits to aggressively reach out to anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered their sexual misconduct and urge them to call police, get help, protect others and start healing.

(In January, SNAP “outed” another religious order priest, Frank Paduch, who was working across the street from a school in the suburb of Berwyn.)

CONTACT:
David Clohessy, SNAP National Director, 314 566 9790, Barbara Blaine, SNAP President, 312 399 4747, Therese Albrecht, SNAP Chicago Spokesperson, 708 263 3050