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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests SNAP
Press Release
For immediate release:
Incriminating Documents Prove Milwaukee Archdiocese Tried To Keep Lid on Child Rape Unique New Lawsuit To Be Filed Showing Archdiocesan Cover Up For First Time Ever, Written Records of Secrecy & Deception Within Diocese are Revealed Diocese Insists Police Not to be Told Of New Assaults By Priest
After Criminal Conviction, Priest Is Transferred & Molests More Kids
When: Where: Who:
Details:
This case centers on Fr. Siegfried Widera and his abuse of a boy from a devout family that attended St. Andrews parish in Delavan in the mid 1970s. Widera, now deceased, was convicted and on probation for child sexual abuse before his transfer to St. Andrews. Still, Milwaukee church leaders moved Widera to this remote parish, failing to warn anyone of his criminal conduct. Widera assaulted another child while at St. Andrews and a top church official wrote of trying to keep the lid on the thing, so no police record would be made and convince [the victims mother] not to go to the police Widera was then transferred to a parish in California where he continued to assault children.
Last year, the California Appeals Court, in a unanimous decision in favor of California plaintiffs abused as children by Widera, wrote that church leaders in Milwaukee were operating what amounted to a pedophile lend-lease program by intentionally placing a dangerous sex offender in their state.
Todays lawsuit is being filed in Milwaukee County on behalf of a man now in his 30s. He will not be present at the event but other Widera victims will speak on his behalf.
Contacts: |
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Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests www.snapnetwork.org | ||