Six more accused Kalamazoo priests are ‘outed’
Six more accused Kalamazoo priests are ‘outed’
Most have attracted no attention in Michigan
They allegedly hurt children in other states
But each is or was in the Kalamazoo diocese
SNAP: “Bishop should post names of all the accused"
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that six publicly ‘outed’ and accused priests spent time in Kalamazoo. Most have escaped scrutiny here but were ousted or charged in other states.
They will also push Kalamazoo’s bishop to
--post his own list of those accused,
--include nuns, priests, brothers, bishops, seminarians & lay staff on that list, &
--provide photos, whereabouts and full work histories of all the accused.
WHEN
Thursday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Kalamazoo Catholic diocesan headquarters 215 N. Westnedge Ave, (corner of Eleanor St.) in Kalamazoo
WHO
Two-three members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who was the organization’s former long-time director
WHY
More than half of the nearly 200 Catholic bishops in the US have released the names of child molesting clerics, most of them under pressure over the last few months.
https://wgntv.com/2019/01/03/a-reckoning-is-underway-in-us-catholic-church/
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/diocesan_and_order_lists.htm
Kalamazoo Bishop Paul Bradley (269 903 0153) has not done so, and SNAP believes he’s being “reckless with the safety of kids.”
The group has discovered and is disclosing a list of six publicly accused clergy sex offenders who spent time in the Kalamazoo diocese.
SNAP wants Bp. Bradley to permanently and prominently post the names of ALL accused child molesting church staff on Kalamazoo church websites. That list should also include photos, whereabouts and full work assignments, SNAP says.
The priests on SNAP’s list are: Fr. Gregory H. Poser, Fr. Thomas F. DeVita, Fr. Michael Howard Weston, Fr. Richard Ohlemacher, Fr. Leonard Bogdan and Fr. Carl Anthony Peltz.
For the most part, they’re accused of abusing kids in Minnesota, Illinois, New York and Iceland, and were suspended or defrocked by Catholic officials.
Details about them are available at BishopAccountability.org and AndersonAdvocates.com. More information about them will be posted on the SNAP website and handed out at the news conference.
There are two publicly accused child molesting clerics on BishopAccountability.org's list for the Kalamazoo Diocese: Fr. Jacob Vellian and Fr. Leroy E. White.
Fr. Vellian is accused of sexually abusing at least one girl. In 2010, that allegation was deemed ‘credible’ by church officials. He had “been in active ministry in various dioceses in the US” and was said to be living back in India.
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/news555/2011_09_11_Times_of_India_Priest_accused.htm
Fr. White is also accused of molesting at least one girl. In 2002, he was removed from ministry and in 2004 the Vatican forbade him from working in the Kalamazoo area.
http://bishop-accountability.org/news5/2004_04_26_Rosenfeld_CouldLocal.htm
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314-566-9790, [email protected], Zach Hiner 517-974-9009, [email protected]