IL: Victims to leaflet as Archbishop Cupich celebrates mass

Victims to leaflet archbishop’s mass

They want “prevention, not symbolism”

WHAT:

As Chicago’s new archbishop says mass at a Spanish-speaking parish, concerned Catholics and clergy sex abuse victims will hand fliers to church-goers urging them to

--push Archbishop Blasé Cupich to disclose records about all Chicago sexual predator priests, especially those who worked in Spanish-speaking churches

--aggressively seek out others who saw, suspected or suffered sex crimes.

The victims will also prod Cupich to

--go next weekend to a parish where a twice–accused priest is still on the job.

WHEN:

Sunday, Nov.  30, 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:

Outside St. Agnes of Bohemia Church, 2650 S. Central Park (at the corner of 27^th Street)

WHO:

Four to five members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

WHY:

Victims of sex abuse by priests and concerned Catholics will pass out fliers to church-goers where Chicago’s new Archbishop is saying mass. They want Archbishop Cupich to make protecting children his first priority. 

They will pass out fliers to church goers outside the church where Cupich is saying mass this Sunday.

The organization also wants him to personally visit St. Alphonsus parish next weekend (1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago 60657; 773-525-0709). That’s where Fr. Michael W. O’Connell remains on the job despite reports from two men that he molested them as boys.

Fr. O’Connell was temporarily removed from St. Alphonsus in December 2013 after the archdiocese received an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a boy at Our Lady of the Woods in Orland Park years earlier. In April of this year, Cardinal Francis George reinstated O’Connell even though the Cook County Sheriff’s Department never closed the criminal case.

Shortly thereafter, new allegations surfaced involving abuse of different boy in the 1990s and police continue to investigate. O'Connell, however, remains on the job. Catholic officials claim O’Connell is to avoid the parish school and will not be alone with a child, a contention that SNAP calls “ludicrous and dangerous.”

The group wants Cupich to go to St. Alphonsus and beg anyone who may have information or suspicions about crimes or misdeeds by O’Connell to call police.

CONTACT

Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, ([email protected]) Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003,

Kate Bochte 630-768-1860