MN--Head of support group holds news conference

Head of support group holds news conference

He’ll react to charges against Catholic archdiocese

And he’ll beg other victims to “keep stepping up and speaking up”

SNAP: Choi should take church officials’ passports so they can’t flee

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a hastily-called sidewalk news conference, a Twin Cities clergy sex abuse victim who heads a support group will discuss the new criminal charges against the local Catholic archdiocese

WHEN

TODAY, Friday, June 5 at 4:15 p.m.   

WHERE

On the sidewalk outside the Chancery,  Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis,  226 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 

WHO

At least two individuals, including Frank Meuers, Minnesota SNAP leader, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, [email protected])

WHY

Meuers says “The demand for justice has finally overridden the ploy of secrecy, and now charges have at last been filed.  We now ask anyone with any information of abuse to come forward at once, and help facilitate this movement from silence to openness, and we congratulate the county attorney and his staff for heeding the persistent cries of so very many abused people of this diocese.”

Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director of SNAP, says “We’re glad the Twin Cities archdiocese is being charged. But the credit goes to brave Minnesota victims who have stepped forward and exposed wrongdoing. Their civil lawsuits, police reports and courage has made this happen.

We believe this is the first time in more than a decade that a Catholic diocese has faced criminal charges.

Catholic officials almost always hire expensive lawyers, exploit every technicality and fight bitterly to protect their clerical careers. We predict that will happen here.

So it’s not time for complacency. Every single man and woman has a moral and civic duty to call prosecutors with what they know or suspect about Twin Cities clergy sex crimes or cover ups, no matter how seemingly insignificant or long ago.

By passing a three year civil window, lawmakers gave victims hope. Victims then filed suits and police reports. And now, a big and powerful Catholic institution faces charges. That’s not ideal but its progress.

The cover ups in the Twin Cities are so widely-documented at this point, we believe John Choi had little choice but to pursue the church hierarchy. We’re glad he did. But a charge is not a conviction. So it’s crucial that current and former church staff and members overcome their fears, pick up the phone and call the law, whether they’re victims, witnesses or whistleblowers.”

Meuers will discuss his own abuse at the hands of a Minnesota priest and will take questions.

CONTACT

Barbara Dorris (314 503 0003, [email protected])

David Clohessy (314 566 9790, [email protected])

Verne Wagner (218-340-1277, [email protected])