MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:
Sunday, April 25, 2004

Sex Abuse Victims Expose Los Angeles Archdiocese Abuse Cover-Up

Group Details More Than 40 Molestation Cases In Which Mahony Knew of Prior Crimes

SNAP Disputes Cardinal's Earlier Estimates

They Urge Victims and Witnesses To Come Forward

WHAT: Carrying signs & wearing black robes, hoods & masks, clergy abuse victims will stand in a silent vigil representing more than 40 known abuse victims who were molested AFTER Cardinal Mahony took over the archdiocese in 1985. The group will distribute a list of these alleged perpetrators' names and the number of their victims. At the same time, other victims will hand out leaflets to mass-goers urging anyone who experienced, witnessed, or suspects abuse to call the police.

WHEN: Sunday, April 25, at 1:15 p.m.

WHERE: Outside Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral, 555 W. Temple St. (corner of Hill)

WHO: Two or three dozen clergy abuse victims, and their families and supporters, who are also members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, the nation's largest support group for men and women victimized by clergy.

DETAILS: LA Cardinal Roger Mahony recently insisted that the archdiocese knew of only 10 victims who were abused after he took over, by priests who the archdiocese had previously learned had allegations of abuse against them. Using information gathered from legal documents and other sources, however, SNAP has identified more than 45 victims alleging they were abused after Mahony took over in 1985, by clerics already known to church officials as abusers.

The group will call on Mahony to turn over all personnel records on alleged child molesters to victims and law enforcement. The group will also demand that Mahony notify all parishioners of the number of children who have allegedly been abused since he became Cardinal (in 1985), the names of those perpetrators and their assignments.

The group will provide a four page handout with approximately five or six sentences about each case.

CONTACT:
Mary Grant of Long Beach (626) 419-2930 cell
Manny Vega of Oxnard (805) 207-9027 cell, bilingual/spanish
David Clohessy of St. Louis (314) 566-9790 cell