SNAP presser Thursday, Feb. 1 at 11:15 a.m. in Kansas City

Ex-cleric & abuse victims beg KC archbishop to act

They want him to re-assign accused priest

‘To be safe, move him to a parish without a school,' SNAP says

Twice in six months, accused abusers are put in/near KC Catholic schools

Just last month, SNAP says an Overland Park priest pleaded guilty to child porn

WHAT

Holdings signs at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and a former Kansas City Kansas Catholic priest will publicly beg Kansas’ top church official to

--reverse his recent decision to transfer an accused child molesting priest to a Lenexa parish with a school,

--fire a recently-hired Mission Catholic school principal who faced a child sexual abuse lawsuit, and

--hold an unprecedented, historic joint open public Q & A session and invite the public to discuss how reports of crimes against kids are handled in his archdiocese.

They will also

--disclose that last month an Overland Park KS priest was sentenced to prison on child porn charges,

--prod the archbishop to publicly seek out any youngsters there he may have hurt, and

--publicly appeal to Lenexa parishioners to insist that their church officials ‘work harder to safeguard the vulnerable.’

WHEN

Thursday, Feb. 1 at 11:15 a.m.

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside St. Peter's Cathedral, 409 N 15th St., (between Sandusky and Orville Aves.) in Kansas City Kansas

WHO

An ex-KC KS priest-turned-victims-advocate and two victims of clergy sexual abuse who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY

In a letter, sent today via email, SNAP is asking Kansas City Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann to hold a joint open public meeting to discuss the ‘troubling situations’ described below. (A copy will be available at the news conference.)

In 2021, Fr. John Pilcher was accused of molesting a child and suspended from his position at Mater Dei parish in Topeka.

Late last month, Archbishop Naumann reinstated Fr. Pilcher, transferring him to Holy Trinity church in Lenexa, a parish with an elementary school, resulting in an outcry from parishioners, who later set up a petition asking for Fr. Pilcher's resignation.

‘Out of an abundance of caution,’ SNAP wants Archbishop Naumann to 1) move Fr. Pilcher to another parish, one without a parochial school, and 2) be more forthcoming about how church officials reportedly ‘investigated’ the accusations against him.

The group is especially skeptical and critical of Archbishop Naumann for other reasons, including:

--his recent decision to hire an accused abuser as the head of a Catholic school in Mission, and

--his apparent silence and inaction about an Overland Park priest who was sentenced to prison last month on child pornography charges.

DETAILS

1) In Aug. 2023, Archbishop Naumann let Bishop Miege High School in Mission Kansas hire Phil Baniewicz as its president. But in a 2005 civil sexual abuse lawsuit in Arizona, Baniewicz and two priests were accused of molesting a child. That litigation was apparently settled out of court and the two priests were defrocked because of abuse reports.

SNAP has called this ‘an incredibly reckless decision that deliberately but needlessly puts kids at risk of harm.’

2) In December, Fr. James W. Jackson of Overland Park Kansas was sentenced to prison on child pornography charges to which he had pleaded guilty. He was in ministry as recently as Oct. 2021 in Rhode Island.

According to one news source, “there was a search warrant issued for Jackson's residence in Leawood ‘in response to a child pornography investigation in which Mr. Jackson was the primary target.’” A spokesman for the Overland Park Police said Mr. Jackson would be charged with a crime in Kansas when the Rhode Island charges were resolved. The Johnson County District Attorney’s office in Olathe said in December, 2023 that charges have not yet been filed .

As best SNAP can tell, no KC area Catholic officials notified anyone in the KC area of any of this.

3) In between being suspended and reinstated, Fr. Pilcher traveled to Italy and Egypt, calling it a sabbatical. At one point, Fr. Pilcher also worked for the Archdiocese in Lawrence. No criminal charges or civil lawsuits against him have been filed.

CONTACT

Former KC KS Catholic priest Tom White of Leawood (913 927 2859, [email protected]), David Clohessy (314 566 9790, [email protected]), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Executive Director (267-261-0578, [email protected])

________________

Text of Letter to Archbishop Naumann

2/1/24

Dear Archbishop Naumann:

We urge you, in the weeks ahead, to hold at least one joint open and public meeting with us and anyone who cares about the safety of innocent kids and vulnerable adults in your archdiocese.

The goal: to give worried parents and parishioners an opportunity to question and hear from you directly on a matter of grave importance. It would give you a chance to more thoroughly explain why you believe your actions around alleged child molesters are not reckless and callous. And it would give you an opportunity to shed much-needed light on the controversial and opaque process you follow when reports of sexual violence are made against your staff.

Such a meeting would be historic. In the 35 years of SNAP's existence, we know of no US bishop who has show such openness and courage. It would, we believe, deepen the respect that many of your flock have in you and help create such respect where it is lacking.

A meeting like this could also inspire other similar honest get-togethers elsewhere which, we feel, would lead to greater awareness and understanding of child sex crimes and hopefully even prevent some of them.

We make this request because of the long-standing child sex abuse and cover up crisis that continues to endanger youngsters and roil the church and in light of several recent troubling situations in your archdiocese including

--your recent decision to transfer an accused child molesting priest to a Lenexa parish with a school,
--your letting a Mission Catholic recently hire a school principal who faced a child sexual abuse lawsuit,
--your apparent silence and inaction about an Overland Park priest who was sentenced to prison last month on child pornography charge, and
--your refusal to add more names to your official archdiocesan 'credibly accused' abusers list, including such proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesting clerics who are or were in your archdiocese, such  as Fr. John C. (Fidelis) Forrester, Fr. Placidus Kieffer, Fr. Norman J. Rogge, Fr. Roger Sinclair and Fr. Eugene A. Maio, who we believe is still alive).

(We have several other concerns about your decision-making. These are just the most recent and egregious examples.)

Many Catholic officials, including you, relentlessly try to reassure the flock claiming 'we've reformed,' 'this scandal is behind us,' 'we promptly oust accused abusers,' 'we investigate abuse reports carefully,' and so on.

Yet there's a vast gulf between what the church hierarchy SAYS about abuse and cover up and what it DOES about abuse and cover up. Time and time again, the comfort, convenience and careers of the hierarchy takes clear precedence over steps to protect kids, heal victims and tell the truth.

So many US Catholic officials, here and elsewhere, are still widely distrusted or even disbelieved when they make decisions about alleged child molesting clerics behind closed doors citing vague 'policies' and communicating those decisions inconsistently and imprecisely.

And faith in you and your colleagues, and the institution as a whole, continues to erode.

It's safe to say that many people, most notably parishioners and abuse survivors, share the simple but crucial concern we raised with you last year: Why take the risk?
Most parishes in Kansas do not have elementary schools. It would be considerate and cautious to put Fr. John Pilcher - accused recently of child sexual abuse - in one of them. Yet, you assign him to Holy Trinity parish, a parish with an elementary school, despite considerable opposition from families there. Why take that risk?

Most schools - even Catholic schools - do not knowingly hire an accused child molester as principal. Yet last year, you let Bishop Miege High School in Mission hire one as its new head. In 2005, Phil Baniewicz was named in a 2005 civil sexual abuse lawsuit in Arizona. Why take that risk?

Two priests were also named. The lawsuit settled. Both priests were defrocked. Both are now on official church 'credibly accused' lists. Is it possible Baniewicz is innocent? Is it possible the victim has Baniewicz confused with another man who hurt him? Sure. Is it prudent to hire Baniewicz for this position? No. Why take that risk?

Many employers, informed that a powerful staff member was arrested, charged and convicted of child pornography, would say something to their staff and the public about it. But when this happened to Fr. James Jackson of Overland Park, you apparently did and said nothing.

No matter who Fr. Jackson's direct supervisor was or what his technical assignment was, he no doubt had access to kids in your archdiocese. There may well be one - or more - he has harmed. That or those youngsters may well be trapped today in shame, fear, isolation and confusion. Your passivity and secrecy might be exacerbating their deep pain. Why take that risk?

In these cases of Fr. Pilcher, Phil Baniewicz and Fr. Jackson, and others - these are not sound, compassionate and prudent moves on your part. They are callous, reckless and hurtful moves.

But if you're confident you're doing right, you should welcome a chance to explain these decisions in a group setting. If you truly believe that many of your flock and in the broader public simply misunderstand your intentions and actions, you'd be wise to openly explain them.

Truth be told, however, we in SNAP have heard many of the excuses you will likely offer for these actions.

For instance, you'll likely claim that Fr. Jackson, wasn't formally assigned to a church in your archdiocese. This is self-serving hair-splitting. He lived in your archdiocese. He was arrested in your archdiocese. He no doubt was sometimes around, in formal or informal settings, around children in your archdiocese.

So why not err on the side of prudence? Why not honor your repeated promises to be 'transparent' and alert your flock to his presence here, begging anyone to come forward if they saw, suspected or suffered any of Fr. Jackson's crimes?

You will likely claim that 'investigations' have 'cleared' Fr. Pilcher and that he should be given 'another chance.' Maybe so. But it need not be a chance with such direct and constant contact with children.

You may say "I didn't hire that accused abuser for the school in Marion. The school's board did." But we all know that an archbishop is the head of his archdiocese, with the ultimate authority over all things Catholic. Had the board hired an outspoken Planned Parenthood staffer or LBGTQ rights advocate in this post, you certainly would not sit back, shrug your shoulders and pretend to be powerless.

We in SNAP will continue to do what we've always done. First and foremost, we will keep begging anyone who may have seen, suspected, or suffered any misdeeds by any Catholic employee or volunteer in Kansas  - whether priest, nun, brother, bishop, seminarian or monk or lay person - to tell a trusted friend or relative, seek therapy, call law enforcement, and help protect other children.

We'll also continue to offer an empathetic ear to victims who call. We'll commiserate and sympathize with distraught and disillusioned Catholics who call. We'll keep working with secular authorities - like police, prosecutor and legislators - who have shown through their actions that they take children's' safety seriously.

Regardless of your response to our invitation, we will continue to err on the side of caution, skepticism and safety and to urge your parishioners - especially those in Overland Park, Topeka and to be vigilant and vocal, expressing their heartfelt concerns to you no matter how pessimistic they may feel about making a difference.

We hope - though our hope fades almost daily - to someday work with church figures in this campaign to prevent the horrors inflicted on us by Catholic clerics - and concealed by other Catholic clerics - to be inflicted on our children and grandchildren.

We look forward to your response.

David Clohessy
7234 Arsenal St
St. Louis MO 63143
314 566 9790
[email protected]

Tom White
Leawood KS
913 927 2859
[email protected]

P.S. As you know, several times in recent years, we have publicly urged you - with little success - to expand and improve your list of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics on you archdiocesan website. Most crucially, today we renew our plea to add these names (and others) to your list.
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2018/11_12/2018_12_15_Andy_Star_SNAP_accused.htm
https://www.snapnetwork.org/victims_blast_ks_archbishop_on_abuse_jan19
https://www.snapnetwork.org/kc_mo_outs_six_priests_dec18

--Fr. Roger A. Sinclair was exposed as a “predator priest” last August in an extensive Pennsylvania grand jury report about clergy sex crimes and cover ups in that state. Catholic officials were told he molested two boys, but one priest deterred a mother from reporting to police.
Fr. Sinclair was treated at a Church-run center for sexually troubled priests called the House of Affirmation in St. Louis MO. He was also a military chaplain in CA, FL, KS VA and MA.
In 1991, Fr. Sinclair was fired from Topeka State Hospital after he "managed to gain access to a locked unit deceitfully" to try to take male teen patients to the movies. In 2005, he resigned from priesthood.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/PA_40th_GJ/Cases_and_Profiles/2018_08_14_PA_GJ_Priests_Greensburg_15_Sinclair.pdf
http://bishop-accountability.org/priestdb/PriestDBbylastName-S.html

--Fr. Eugene A. Maio is a Jesuit who was accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing one person at Marymount High School in Los Angeles. He previously trained in the Kansas City KS archdiocese as student priest, and later taught at St. Louis University in the St. Louis archdiocese for at least two years. In 2003, he was living in the Akron OH area. 
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Maio_Eugene_A_SJ.htm

--Fr. Placidus Kieffer is a Benedictine who was accused of sexually abusing two boys in the Davenport IA diocese. Those allegations were deemed “credible” by church officials and his name is on Davenport's list of "credibly accused" abusers.

--Fr. John C. (Fidelis) Forrester, a Benedictine, is listed on diocesan lists of the "credibly accused" in Seattle WA (2016) and Davenport IA (2008).  Allegations were made against him by at least three boys. He worked at Ss. Peter and Paul church in Seneca KS and St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison KS. 
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/diocesan_lists/Seattle/2016_01_15_Seattle_7043_Disclosure_List.pdf
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/2008_07_17_CatholicMessenger_ListReleased.htm#forrester
http://bishop-accountability.org/Davenport.htm#forrester

--Fr. Norman J. Rogge, a Jesuit priest, was ‘outed’ as credibly accused last month on the Mobile AL diocesan website. He had pleaded guilty to a sexual offense against a child in Florida in 1967, and was charged with sexual battery or lewd and lascivious act on a child in 1984 and again convicted. He worked at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s Kansas and also CT, TX, CA and LA.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/diocesan_lists/Mobile/2018_12_06_Credibly_Accused_Mobile_Priests_and_Brothers.pdf
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/criminal/Rogge_Norman_J_1967.pdf 
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/criminal/Rogge_Norman_J_1985.pdf
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Rogge_Norman_J_sj.htm
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2009_01_16_TimesPicayune_FuneralNotice_Norman_Rogge_1.htm