Media Advisory for Thursday, December 18, 2003

10 More Accused Abusive Priests To Be Publicly Disclosed in Northern California

In Unusual Move, Victims Name Alleged Molesters on Web Site

One Man Just Settled His Civil Sex Abuse Lawsuit for Seven Figure Sum

SNAP to California Bishops, " Protect Kids, Not Abusers"

WHAT:
Holding posters naming accused child molesters, clergy sexual abuse victims will publicly disclose the names of ten current and former Northern California priests who have been or will soon be accused of sexual crimes in civil lawsuits. Most, if not all, of the names have not been publicly exposed until today.

They will also urge church leaders to:
- "come clean" now and release the names of all known and suspected abusive priests immediately, before the December 31st statute of limitations deadline for victims of abuse to file lawsuits.
- include those from other dioceses who are accused and worked here temporarily.

WHEN:
Thursday, Dec. 18th, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Outside the San Francisco archdiocesan chancery office, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco

WHO:
Two or three adults who were molested by clergy, including one who recently reached a seven figure settlement with his perpetrator and a religious order.
They are members of a local support group, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)

WHY/DETAILS:
This list of known or suspected abusive clergy is being compiled and released publicly for the first time, and will also be posted on SNAP's website: SNAPnetwork.org

The St. Louis chapter of SNAP recently took a simiilar step, posting the names of nearly 30 clergy who had molested kids.

One of the participants is a Tuscon AZ man, Gene Reedy, who was abused as a child by Christian Brother Francis Verngren, the former principal of St. Mary's Prepatory Grammar School in Berkley in the late 1960s. Verngren died just two weeks ago, and church officials have admitted that he abused other children too. Neither Reedy nor Verngren have spoken or been identified publicly before. Reedy hopes to reach out to others who were victimized by Verngren.

The group will also quote from the Dallas Charter, enacted by all American Catholic bishops in June 2002, which promises "openness and transparency" regarding abuse.

Names of Priests in Northern California

Edward Noonan
St. Gertude, Stockton, CA
1944-1969

Antonio Nunoz, Stockton CA

Michael Canny

Fred Len Czyki, St. Peters of Pacifica

John Gallen

Frank Choi

Msgr. Joseph Alzugaray
Currently in ministry and assigned to St. Apollinaris Parish in Santa Rosa Diocese
Lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, CA

Frank Espinosa
Teacher at St. Gabriel School, San Francisco in 1970s

San Francisco Bay Area

Elliot Hopper

George Crespin
May still be working

Joe Guiterrez, AKA Jessie Guiterrez
Former Christian Brother, now working as psychotherapist

Vincent Ignatius Breen

Anthony Slane
In home for old priests in Seattle, WA.

Donald Mcguire

CONTACT:
Mary Grant of Long Beach, SNAP's Western Regional Director 626 419 2930
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP's National Director 314 566 9790 cell
Terri Light of Hayward, SNAP's Bay Area Coordinator 510 517 3338