Victims disclose allegations against ex-priest

The accused is apparently still in Wilmington

For the first time, he's being publicly accused

Bishop should disclose ALL predators, group says

SNAP begs those who suffered clergy crimes to “get help”

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will disclose that
--a former Delaware priest, never before publicly accused, allegedly molested a boy, and
--he reportedly still lives in Wilmington.

They will also prod Delaware’s Catholic bishop to immediately, voluntarily and permanently post on his webpage the names, whereabouts and work histories of child molesting clerics who have worked in the diocese, including those who belong to religious orders
--for the safety of vulnerable children and the healing of wounded adults, and
--as a tangible sign of ‘good faith’ while he tries to convince dozens of child sex victims that his recent proposal to resolve the diocesan bankruptcy is sincere.

WHEN
TODAY, Thursday, Jan. 13 at noon

WHERE
Outside the Wilmington Catholic Diocese headquarters (“chancery office”) 1925 Delaware Ave. in Wilmington

WHO
Three members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a California woman who is the organization’s western regional director and a Delaware woman who heads the organization’s local chapter

DOCUMENTATION
The group will release a the victim’s five page report of his abuse that was filed with a court and a one page statement by the victim (both with his name redacted).

WHY
Months ago, a former Maryland man filed a report to the US bankruptcy court in Delaware that he was offered liquor and molested at age 15 by Fr. Harry Dean Walker when the boy was a parishioner at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Salisbury Md. in the 1960s.

Worried about children who may be around Walker now and other adults who may have been molested by Walker in the past, the anonymous man contacted SNAP about exposing the alleged predator.

The parish where these crimes happened, St. Francis de Sales, is one of two particularly hard-hit Wilmington diocesan parishes. Credibly accused child molesting clerics who were assigned there include: Francis P. Cornerly (1949-50), Walter D. Power (1952-54), Francis G. DeLuca (1958-61), Alfred J. Lind (1960-62), Leonard J. Mackiewicz (1970-71), William E. Irwin (1976-86), Joseph A. McGovern (deacon, 1978-79), Edward F. Dudzinski (1983-85), and Charles W. Wiggens (1987-91). NOTE-Walker was never assigned to this parish.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/de_wilmington/Parishes_Where_Accused_Wilmington_Priests_Worked.htm

According to church records, Walker was born in Wilmington in 1934, attended Salesianum School, Mount St. Mary’s College and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg Md. He was ordained in 1961 and worked (in order) at these church institutions: Church of the Good Shepherd in Perryville, Md., St. Michael the Archangel Church in Georgetown Del., Catholic Social Services, Holy Name Church in Pocomoke City, Md., and at St. Mary’s Church, St. Paul’s Church and St. Patrick’s Church (the latter three are all in Wilmington). Just prior to his time at Catholic Social Services, Walker did graduate studies at Boston College. In 1972, Walker supposedly left the priesthood.

Walker is believed to be living at 2000 Nicholby Drive in Wilmington (302 999 7746). SNAP doesn’t know how he is supporting himself. He reportedly is close to Fr. John Hynes who works at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Wilmington (302 633 4900, stccfo@comcast.net).

The victim, now around 60 years old, now lives out of state. He is represented by Wilmington attorney Tom Conaty (302 894 1777 office, 302 893 5004 mobile, tpconaty@aol.com).

Earlier this week, victims criticized the latest proposal by Bishop Francis Malooly in the diocese’s Chapter 11 process. Many victims do not trust Malooly to honor his promises. So as a simple, but significant step forward, SNAP is urging Malooly to take a tangible step to warn parents and safeguard kids by disclosing and permanently posting on his diocesan website the names, whereabouts and work histories of all religious order clerics who are proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesters. (Typically, in most Catholic dioceses, one forth to one third of the priests are religious order clerics but bishops claim to have no authority over them and disclose little or nothing when they are accused of child sex crimes.)

(At 10:00 a.m. today in Dover, SNAP is holding a separate news conference.)

CONTACT:
Joelle Casteix 949 322 7434 jcasteix@gmail.com, David Clohessy 314 566 9790 SNAPclohesy@aol.com, Judy Miller 302 234 1519, (home), 302 397 1622 (cell)