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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

SNAP Press Release
Giving Voice to Victims

 

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 5, 2007

For More Information:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314-566-9790
Lisa Kendzior of Dallas VOTF (817) 749-1725  (home), (817) 773-5907 (cell)
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP National Outreach Director 314-503 0003

Sex abuse victims want admitted molester banned from retreats

Convicted predator should not be leading spiritual events, they say

Catholic and Episcopal officials kept clergyman’s crimes secret

At a bare minimum, support group wants public warned about molester

He could still be assaulting kids now, so why put kids at risk?” SNAP asks

WHAT
After a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will try to hand-deliver a letter to Episcopal church officials criticizing them and Catholic officials for
-- letting an admitted, convicted child molesting minister lead retreats in TX and MN, and
-- failing to disclose his crimes to neighbors, residents and retreat attendees, both current and past.

They will also publicly urge

-- church officials to use their websites and newspapers to warn unsuspecting parishioners about the predator, and

-- anyone who witnessed, suspected or experienced sex crimes by this Episcopal minister or other clergy to come forward, get help, and call the police.

WHEN
Thursday, Dec. 6, 11:15 a.m.

WHERE
Outside the Texas Episcopal Diocese headquarters,1630 N. Garrett Ave., Dallas 75206 (214-826-8310)

WHO
Two-three sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time national director and a Dallas woman who leads a local affiliate of a Catholic lay reform group called Voice of the Faithful (VOTF.org)

WHY
Despite being a convicted, admitted and defrocked child molesting Episcopal minister, Lynn C. Bauman (903 664 3011) leads religious retreats at three locations: The Praxis Learning Center in Telephone TX (in Fannin County, where he lives), The Way of The Wolf Retreat Center, Fredericksburg TX (830 997 0711) and the Episcopal House of Prayer (320 363 3293) on the grounds of St. John's Abbey (320 363 2001), a Catholic school in Collegeville MN.  
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2007/01_02/2007_02_06_Miller_RetreatFacilitators.htm

In 1996, Bauman admitted molesting an eight year old Texas boy on a retreat. The Dallas Morning News called him “a nationally known spiritual leader and author” and reported that he’s been accused of sexually abusing at least two other boys. Bauman was sentenced to probation for a decade and is still a registered sex offender.

The publicity and promotion materials for Bauman’s retreats make no mention that he is an admitted child molester.

SNAP believes that Catholic and Episcopal officials are being callous and reckless. They want church authorities in Texas to warn their flocks, their Minnesota counterparts and any potential retreat attendees (especially parents) about Bauman’s crimes.

Bauman’s brother, Ward Bauman (320 685 8064) heads the Episcopal House of Prayer.

(See Dallas Morning News: "Ex-priest gets probation for sex abuse" by Mark Wrolstad, 8/11/99 & "Former Episcopalian charged with molestation," by Brooks Egerton, 1/7/99.)


Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org