Victims blast Peoria bishop on abuse
March 17, 2025
Victims blast Peoria bishop on abuse
In new video, man who sued speaks up for first time
His predator priest still lives in IL but diocese won’t say where
Advocate challenges Tylka to “help put abusive cleric behind bars”
SNAP: “Offering prayers won’t cut it. Bishop must act to safeguard kids”
Roughly 50 Peoria area priests are now publicly accused child molesters
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will try to hand deliver a letter to Peoria’s Catholic bishop
--blasting him for ‘reckless inaction’ in response to a lawsuit last week against a still-living but defrocked predator priest,
--urging him to protect kids by ‘personally visiting each place the abuser worked and beg victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call the police,’ and
--challenging local church employees - ‘no matter what the bishop does or doesn’t do’ - to ‘aggressively warn parents and the public about this predator.’
Also, in an impassioned new video, the victim who sued the cleric last week will discuss his shame, suicidal feelings, hopefulness and explain why he’s coming forward and taking action now.
WHENMonday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m.
WHEREOn the sidewalk outside the Peoria Catholic Diocese headquarters (a.k.a chancery office or Spalding Center), 492 NE. Madison Ave. in Peoria
WHO
Two-four clergy sex abuse victims including a Missouri man (also abused as a child by a priest) who is the former national director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
