Another new clergy sex case filed

Victim will speak publicly for first time

It’s the fourth suit in in less than a year vs. priest

Less than 2 months ago, predator was a KC pastor

Group wants 3 principals to warn parents about another cleric

He’s the “most accused” priest in Missouri and lives near schools

WHAT: Holding signs and childhood photos a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will announce that

-- a new civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit against a priest who headed a KC parish as recently as two months ago, and
-- they are also writing 3 KC area principals, 1 school superintendent and 1 bishop, urging them to warn parents, parishioners and the public that Missouri’s most widely accused predator priest now apparently lives a mile or less from three schools.

WHEN:
Thursday, July 28 at 1:00 PM

WHERE:
Outside the chancery (diocesan headquarters) at 20 West Ninth Street, Kansas City, MO

WHO:
A KC man, David Tate, who is filing the new suit (and speaking publicly for the first time), along with two-three clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a KC man who was abused by a priest who became a bishop

WHY:
SNAP has learned that Fr. Thomas M. Reardon now lives at an apartment complex at Birch and 133rd in Leawood, KS, near three schools and the Deer Creek subdivision. Weeks ago, a civil lawsuit was served against Reardon there. No Missouri priest faces as many child sex abuse allegations as Reardon.

In 1989, Reardon resigned from the priesthood. Earlier, he had been sent to John Hopkins for treatment for his “addictions,” yet still the KC diocese paid for him to become a licensed counselor. In 2004, however, Reardon voluntarily turned in that professional license when lawsuits against him began piling up. (He’s now faced at least 25 accusers and almost all of them have settled civil cases against him.)

SNAP worries about the safety of kids near Reardon and is writing letters to five school and church officials asking them to alert the public about his presence and his crimes.

The schools are Oxford Park Academy (13200 Nall Ave., 913 897 2774), Overland Trail Elementary (6225 W 133rd, 913 239 7000), and Mission Trail Elementary (13200 Mission Rd., 913 239 6700). All are a mile or less away from Reardon’s home.

http://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=oxford+academy+overland+park&fb=1&gl=us&hq=oxford+academy&hnear=0x87c09551a72638d3:0x24ce4feb3844f9c8,Overland+Park,+KS&ei=kUUwTr-OB-eJsgLq39he&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&ved=0CAQQtgM&cid=0,0,11655111897663248247

2) Three recent child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits name or implicate Fr. Michael Tierney as an offender. Now, a fourth one is being filed today.

Today’s new lawsuit charges that Tierney molested a then 12-13 year old boy in 1971-72 at a home and a hotel swimming pool in Kansas City. The victim is now in his early 50s, lives in Kansas City and is filing under his name, David Tate. He will NOT, however, be at the news conference.

As recently as June 2, Tierney was still pastor of Christ the King parish (8510 Wornall Rd., 816-363-4888, mtierney@ctkkcmo.org). For more than six months, SNAP repeatedly urged KC Bishop Robert Finn to suspend him. Only after controversy began swirling around the case of Fr. Shawn Ratigan did Finn finally suspend Tierney. (Tierney is still a priest and claims he’s innocent.)

The first suit against Tierney (filed last September), says that the priest molested a different 13 year old boy, also in 1971. According to the second suit (filed in February), Tierney made lewd comments and “parroted” sexual advances made by two other priests to an 11 year old boy in 1970. A third suit against him was filed last month. All of them are still pending.

By keeping Tierney in his post for months, SNAP believes Finn violated the US bishops’ national abuse policy which says that “credibly accused” priests must be quickly suspended.

Tierney also worked at St. Elizabeth’s, the KC parish where more abuse took place than any other parish. Notorious serial predators Fr. Thomas Reardon and Msgr. Thomas J. O’Brien worked there for years. Reardon and O’Brien, often ‘shared’ their victims and themselves engaged in sexual activity in front of boys, according to dozens of lawsuits.

A photo of Tierney is available at Bishop-Accountability.org .

Attorney Rebecca Randles (816 931 9901, 816 510 2704 cell, rebecca@rmblawyers.com) represents victims of both Reardon and Tierney. The diocese is represented by Chad Blomberg.

CONTACT
Mike Hunter 913 634 6490, David Clohessy, SNAP Executive Director 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com, Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director 314 862 7688, 314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com,