Clergy sex victims leaflet about just 'outed' predator

Credibly accused Jesuit priest worked at parish & university

SNAP challenges church officials to put him in treatment center

WHAT
As parishioners leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims will hand out fliers insisting that Catholic authorities
-- put a credibly accused Catholic cleric in a treatment center,
-- explain and apologize for their secrecy surrounding the allegations against him, and
-- work harder to find anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered his misdeeds.

They will also prod parents to ask their kids and other church-goers if they know anything about the priests’ sexual misconduct and to call police and other independent sources of help.

WHEN
Sunday, May 9 at 11:45 a.m.

WHERE
Outside the Ascension Catholic church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park, IL

WHO
Three or four adults who were molested as kids and their supporters, who belong to a self help support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org),

WHY
A week ago, 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. A day later, a second accuser stepped forward.

Reuter also worked at this parish church. While not being assigned to this parish Reuter said mass at the church almost every weekend for ten years ending in March, 2010 when Reuter admitted to the pastor that he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student many years earlier.

Even though his offenses were years ago and at least one 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

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 last week. 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 wants the Jesuits to aggressively reach out to anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered Reuter’s sexual misconduct and urge them to call police, get help, protect others and start healing.

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