KS--Support group wants archbishop to act

KS man appeals to Vatican

Priest allegedly exploited his wife

Support group wants archbishop to act

SNAP: “Families should be warned about cleric”

He worked at several KS churches & has been on leave for 17 years

WHAT

Holding signs and passing out leaflets, clergy abuse victims and a man whose marriage was wrecked by a former Topeka priest will disclose that

--the priest is accused of sexually exploiting an adult parishioner,

--this sexual exploitation ended an 11 year marriage, and

--predator priest now works with vulnerable adults at Catholic Charities.

They will also

--provide 40+ pages of correspondence to and from church officials about the case, and

--announce that a man whose wife was abused by the cleric is writing the Vatican for help.

WHEN

Thursday, Jan. 28 at 1:45 p.m.

WHERE                  

Outside the Cathedral of St. Peter, 409 S. 15^th in Kansas City KS

WHO

Two - four members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including 1) a Kansas City man whose wife was sexually victimized by the priest and 2) a St. Louis man who is SNAP’s longtime director

WHY

Fr. Paul E. Hosler is accused of breaking his vow of celibacy and sexually exploiting at least one married adult parishioner. Larry Davis of Lenexa KS saw his 11 year marriage “wrecked” when his wife was sexually manipulated by Fr. Hosler. Davis is now writing to Vatican officials seeking a reversal of the annulment of his marriage.

SNAP suspects Fr. Hosler has hurt other families with similar clerical misconduct. So Davis and SNAP are leafletting at/near parishes where he worked to find and help others “who are suffering in shame, since and self-blame,” said Clohessy.

The group wants Archbishop Joseph Naumann to tell his flock about Fr. Hosler’s predatory actions and discipline Fr. Hosler for it. Naumann should also explain why Fr. Hosler has been on leave for 17 years, with little or no church supervision, a very unusual situation since church officials often complain about a “priest shortage,” SNAP says.

Fr. Hosler is now a case manager at Catholic Charities of San Diego. SNAP also wants Naumann to warn Catholics in southern California about Fr. Hosler’s past. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-hosler-15237ba9

“Many know about child molesting Catholic clerics. But few realize priests abusing vulnerable adult parishioners is as or more widespread but still deeply hidden,” said SNAP director David Clohessy. “It’s always wrong and hurtful for doctors to have sex with patients, therapists to have sex with clients and ministers to have sex with congregants. That’s especially true in Catholicism, where parishioners are taught, from birth, to respect and trust priests as holy celibate men who can forgive sins and get them into heaven.”

In 17 states, SNAP says, (including AR, TX, IA, CT, UT, MN, ND and WI) it’s a crime for a cleric to have sex with a congregant. Kansas is not one of those states, however.

In recent months, the Kansas City KS Archdiocese has come under increasing scrutiny over predator priests. (And in the Kansas City MO diocese, 2 weeks ago, a deacon was ousted because he broke his celibacy vows: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article53194700.html)

In December, a new lawsuit, filed accusing a KC KS archdiocesan priest and doctor (identified only as Fr. J. H. W. Jr.) of molesting a boy during “nights of debauchery” with another priest and accusing diocesan staff of “actual knowledge that Fr. JHW was sexually abusing children.”

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ks_predator_priest_and_doctor_is_sued_for_first_time

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mo_new_clerics_are_asked_to_disinvite_finn

“Parishioners are safest when those who commit and conceal misdeeds or crimes are exposed, prosecuted and jailed,” said Clohessy, executive director of SNAP. “For the safety of the flock Fr. Hosler and those who are shielding him should be exposed.”

SNAP says that Deacon James Edward Lavin, who works in the chancery office (913-721-1570, [email protected],JimLavin@gmail.com) has been involved in the Fr. Hosler case. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deacon-jim-lavin-796ba014 

http://hscatholic.org/people/deacon-jim-lavin

Among other places, Fr. Hosler worked at these parishes: St Patrick’s in Kansas City, Most Pure Heart in Topeka, Annunciation Parish in Frankfurt, St. Elizabeth Parish in Blue Rapids, St. Monica in Waterfall, Immaculate Conception Church in Valley Falls, St. John the Evangelist in Lawrence, Holy Spirit in Overland Park  (all in Kansas). He also spent time in Manhattan KS.

According to BishopAccountability.org, there are 12 KC archdiocesan clerics who are accused of molesting kids. They are: Fr. Thomas F. Cawley, Fr. Thomas A. Conway, Fr. William A. Finnerty, Fr. James A. Forsyth, Fr. William M. Haegelin, Fr. Finian Meis, Fr. Anthony Putti, Fr. Edward F. Roberts, Fr. Dennis E. Schmitz, Fr. John H. Wisner, Fr. Norman C. "Chuck" Wolfe and Fr. Camillus Wurtz. 

(NOTE: Fr. Hosler has NOT been accused of hurting children.)

Kansas City attorney Mara Cohara represents the archdiocese (816 460 5760, 816 292 2000 of Lathrop & Gage).

CONTACT

David Clohessy (314 566 9790, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Larry Davis of Lenexa 816 769 5899