Parents of sex abuse victim speak out

They’re offended by Cardinal’s “illegal alien” remark

Group wants Mahony to help oust newly-sued predator priest

Despite new lawsuit in US, child molesting cleric now works in Mexico

SNAP: “LA archdiocesan abuse panel members should step down or be ousted”

What:
Holding signs and photos of their abused son at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will publicly urge LA’s Cardinal Roger Mahony to
-- publicly apologize for calling two sex abuse victims “illegal aliens” last week, and
-- use his influence to get a recently-sued ex-LA predator priest ousted from his church job in Mexico.

The group will also urge
-- every member of Mahony’s sex abuse panel to resign, because they have apparently never notified police, even once, about any of the dozens of Los Angeles archdiocese predator priests, and
-- Mahony to disband the panel if they don’t.

Finally, the victims will also praise a new lawsuit charging church officials with fraud.

When:
TODAY, Thursday, June 24, 11:00 a.m.

Where:
Outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street, at Hill) in downtown Los Angeles, CA

Who:
Spanish-speaking parents of a boy who was abused by Fr. Michael Stephen Baker and several clergy sex abuse victims who belong to an international support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

Why:
Last week, a newly-released deposition revealed that Cardinal Roger Mahony used the loaded phrase “illegal aliens” to describe alleged victims of a pedophile priest. SNAP wants Mahony to apologize for the hurtful remark.

And yesterday (6/23), the Associated Press reported that a new child sex abuse lawsuit has been filed against the LA archdiocese. It involves an alleged predator priest, Fr. Jeffrey Newell, who is still working for the church today down in Mexico. SNAP wants Mahony to write the Pope and the Mexican bishop insisting that the cleric be immediately suspended.

The parents of the first victim, who was allegedly molested by Fr. Michael Stephen Baker, will criticize Mahony at this event. And at the event, a written statement will be read by the second victim, who was allegedly molested by Newell. With SNAP, they are seeking apologies from Mahony.

Until yesterday, Newell had never been publicly accused of abuse before. He’s still a priest now, in the Diocese of Tijuana. According to the AP, Newell’s “MySpace page lists a half-dozen teenage boys as his friends and includes pictures of Newell in his priest's collar.”

Also last week, another deposition was released. It involved a retired LA judge who chairs Mahony’s child sex abuse panel. The judge admitted under oath that neither he nor any other member of that hand-picked committee ever called the police about any child sex allegations against any archdiocesan staff. Because of this, SNAP is publicly asking each panel member to resign. If they refuse, SNAP wants Mahony to oust them all and appoint a new committee.

Baker’s victims are represented by attorney John Manly (949 252 9990). Newel’s victim is represented by attorney Joseph C. George (916 442 7100.

Contact: Joelle Casteix 949 322 7434, David Clohessy 3214 566 9790