Priest accused in new abuse suit is still on the job today? SNAP responds

Yesterday, another Kansas City area Catholic priest was accused in a civil lawsuit of molesting a child.

Today, that priest is apparently still on the job at his parish in Bethany. We’ve checked the websites of the diocese, the religious order which signs True’s paychecks, and several other resources. There’s no mention anywhere of anyone removing the priest from his post.

http://www.parishesonline.com/scripts/hostedsites/Org.asp?ID=20942

For the safety of children, he should be suspended immediately.

He is Fr. Isaac True. Yesterday, his victim, Jon David Couzins, took several steps.

-- He disclosed his identity.
-- He bravely spoke in public about his childhood betrayal and his continuing adult pain.
-- He repeatedly took questions from the media.
-- He was surrounded by two dozen friends and family.
-- He is represented by an experienced law firm that has handled hundreds of child sex cases.

But today, that priest apparently is in in his parish

This is precisely what happened last October with Fr. Michael Tierney. He was accused of molesting a child in a civil lawsuit but Bishop Finn kept Tierney in his parish, refusing to suspend him. A second lawsuit named Tierney months later, but again Bishop Finn kept Tierney in his parish, refusing to suspend him.

Then, when controversy erupted around the arrest of Fr. Shawn Ratigan, Bishop Finn finally suspended Fr. Tierney.

We urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered sex crimes – by True of other clerics – to call police, protect kids and start healing.

And we applaud Couzins for his courage and his compassion.

True is pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in Bethany (660 425 8160).

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])