Abuse victims to leaflet school where predator worked

In 2009, Catholic officials put admitted molester near kids

Mahony knowingly put sex addict priest on church abuse panel

After $100k settlement, archdiocese quietly reassigns known predator

Despite church promises to do background checks, they still don’t, SNAP says

What:
Holding signs and photos of themselves at the ages they were abused, child sex abuse victims and their supporters will pass out leaflets to parents at a school where an admitted child molesting cleric worked until last week. The fliers:
-- urge parents ask to their kids about the admitted predator and sex addict priest,
-- beg anyone who has saw, suspected or suffered abuse to call police officials, not church officials

They will also:
-- blast church officials who put the known offender in a parish with kids in 2009,
-- insist that LA’s Catholic cardinal publicly explain why he put an admitted molester on a sex abuse board, and
-- demand the Cardinal immediate release secret church abuse documents as required in the 2007 sex abuse settlement

When:
TODAY Monday, February 14, 2 pm

Where
Outside Holy Name of Mary Parish School, 714 E. Bonita Avenue (at San Dimas Canyon Rd.) in San Dimas

Who:
3-4 men and women who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org).

Why:
On Saturday, the New York Times reported that an active San Dimas priest, Fr. Martin O'Loghlen, was assigned to a San Dimas parish in 2009, even though he is an admitted sex addict who had molested a teenaged girl. In 1997, knowing this history, LA Cardinal Roger Mahony put O’Loghlen on an archdiocesan panel that evaluates sex abuse reports (like the controversial church sex abuse panel that is under fire now by the Philadelphia district attorney).

In 1997, O'Loghlen's crimes led to a $100,000 sex abuse settlement with one of his victims. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/12/us/12abuse.html?_r=1&hp

SNAP maintains that this case clearly shows how little the church hierarchy is reforming and the need for parents and parishioners to stay vigilant.

Though Mahony has asked one of his top aides to resign over the controversy, SNAP believes this is inadequate. Mahony should fire, harshly denounce and start defrocking Fr. Michael Meyers, the Vicar for Clergy who was in charge of assigning O'Loghlen to Holy Name of Mary Parish, despite O'Loghlen's admission of sex abuse and the lawsuit. In addition, SNAP is demanding that Mahony publicly announce to the parish and the Archdiocese why he put an admitted molester on the panel in charge of reviewing sex abuse cases. SNAP believes that this reckless disregard for safety and transparency has put thousands of children across Los Angeles at direct risk of abuse.

SNAP is also demanding the immediate and public release of secret personnel files, as required by the 2007 $660 sex abuse settlement with more than 500 victims of abuse.

The O'Loghen documents and a complete assignment history may be viewed at http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/OLoghlen_Rev_Martin_SS_CC.htm

Contact:
Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, SNAP Western Regional Director, 949-322-7434 cell jcasteix@gmail.com
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director, 314-566-9790 cell, snapclohessy@aol.com
Barb Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director, 314-503-0003 cell, snapdorris@gmail.com