Group reaches out to “others in pain”

They worry about KS pedophile priest

He tried to hire hit man to kill one of his victims

Self help group also wants Catholic officials to “spread the word”

And it urges others who saw, suspected or suffered clergy crimes to speak up

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, two leaders of a clergy sex abuse victims support group will prod the Kansas City KS bishop to aggressively urge those who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes to contact law enforcement officials immediately.

The victims will also
--plead with current and former church members and employees to call police if they have any information about accusations against the clerics, and
--beg victims and witnesses to step forward, get help, and protect others by calling police.

WHEN
Thursday, June 16, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE
Outside the city police station headquarters, 111 E. 11th St., Lawrence, KS

WHO
Two leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) including a St. Louis man who is the organization’s long time director

WHY
Last September, US Marshals arrested Fr. John M. Fiala in Lawrence. and charged him with molesting a child in Texas. Fiala, now 51, worked in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas “in 2001 and 2002 and was spiritual director from 1998 to 2001 at a religious order that had a house in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph,” according to the Kansas City Star. He also worked in Texas and Nebraska.

Months ago, Fiala also reportedly tried to hire a “hit man” to kill one of his victims.

SNAP believes that Catholic officials have a moral and civic duty to use their resources (parish bulletins, diocesan websites, church newspapers and newsletters and pulpit announcements) to seek out those who may have suffered, seen or suspected clergy sex crimes. It’s not enough, SNAP feels, for bishops to passively sit back and do little or nothing while law enforcement officials charge, try, and convicted child molesting clerics. Top Catholic staffers have an obligation to take strong and repeated outreach measures to ensure that pedophile priests are effectively prosecuted and kept away from kids.

CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790 SNAPclohessy@aol.com, Mike Hunter 913 634 6490