Victims ‘out’ three more accused Lansing priests

Victims ‘out’ three more accused Lansing priests

Even now, the clerics are “under the radar” in the state

Group blasts central Michigan Catholic officials on abuse

SNAP wants bishop to post ALL alleged offenders' names online

“More details are also needed to better protect the vulnerable,” it says

"The real solution," group insists, "is criminal prosecution & legislative reform"

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that three publicly accused priests were or are in the Lansing diocese. Each spent time in central Michigan but have attracted little or no media or public attention before in the state.

The victims will also call on local Catholic officials to

--post the names of ALL accused priests on their diocesan website,

--include details like their work histories, whereabouts and photos, and

--join with victims in pushing for real legislative reform, like repealing Michigan's "archaic, predator-friendly statute of limitations" so survivors can do what bishops will not do: expose child molesters in court.

WHEN

Wednesday, March 13 at 3:15 p.m. 

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside the Lansing Catholic diocesan headquarters, 228 N. Walnut St, (corner of W. Ottawa St.) in Lansing, Michigan

WHO

Two – three victims and advocates who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who was the group's former long time executive director

WHY

1) SNAP is urging Lansing Bishop Earl Boyea to prominently and permanently post on church websites the names of ALL accused church staff. Roughly half of the nearly 200 US bishops have done this. It’s “the bare minimum every bishop should do to help protect kids,” SNAP says.

2) SNAP has discovered and is disclosing names and information about three priests publicly accused of sexually abusing children who are ‘under the radar’ in Michigan. The clerics have been publicly exposed for child sex crimes elsewhere, spent time in the Lansing diocese, but are virtually unknown here. They are:

--Fr. David C. Bayne, a Jesuit who was at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor from 1954–1960. He also spent time in Detroit and St. Louis. In December, his name appeared on a list of ‘credibly accused’ abusive clerics revealed by his Jesuit supervisors.

http://image.jesuits.org/MIDWESTPROV/media/All_Pastoral_Assignments_of_Jesuits_on_Midwest_Jesuits-12-17-18_List_posted_21_Dec_2018.pdf

https://fox6now.com/2018/12/17/list-of-jesuit-priests-facing-accusations-of-sexual-abuse-includes-marquette-university-muhs-staff/

--Fr. Daniel De Dominicis is accused of sexually abusing a child from roughly 1975 to 1985. The San Bernardino diocese reportedly learned of the allegation in 1994, but did not report it to the police until 2002. He was included in the San Bernardino diocese’s list of clergy "credibly accused" of child sexual abuse. In 1956, he was at the Holy Ghost Fathers Mission Seminary in Ann Arbor.

https://www.andersonadvocates.com/Documents/posts/Diocese%20of_San_Bernardino_Report.pdf

--Father Michael Jerome Keating, who is accused of sexually abusing at least four underage girls, including one in MN from 1997-2000. One filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him in 2013. Most recently, he worked in the St. Paul archdiocese.

Keating attended Notre Dame University, the University of St. Thomas and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He also spent a considerable amount of time in Italy.

In 2006, a top St. Paul church official wrote to his archbishop indicating that, based on the findings of the archdiocese’s investigation, Fr. Keating would either be disqualified from further ministry or they will work on the question of his seductiveness. 

http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Keating_Michael_J.htm

It’s possible that one or all of these clerics molested youngsters in the Lansing diocese, SNAP says, so Lansing church officials should disclose their presence in the diocese and “aggressively use church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements to beg those with information or suspicions about crimes or cover ups to call law enforcement.”

According to BishopAccountability.org, there are 11 publicly accused child molesting Lansing area clerics, not including the three clerics SNAP is disclosing today.

3) SNAP is also urging anyone with information or suspicions about clergy sex crimes or cover ups to contact local law enforcement and Michigan’s attorney general who is investigating all of the state’s dioceses.

https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359--477753--,00.html

The Lansing diocese includes the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw.

CONTACT

David Clohessy, St. Louis volunteer SNAP leader, 314 443-5915, [email protected], Zach Hiner 517 974 9009, [email protected]