The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press Release
Clergy sex victims blast archdiocese
Convicted & defrocked priest is on parish panel
Church officials allegedly retaliating against whistleblower
Group wants archbishop to discipline reckless supervisors
WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will blast the Louisville archdiocese for letting a convicted and defrocked ex-predator priest sit on a parish committee. They will urge Catholic officials to
-- explain and apologize for the 'irresponsible' move,
-- discipline whichever church supervisors are responsible for it, and
-- urge anyone at the parish who may have seen, suspected or suffered any crimes or misdeeds by him to call police immediately.
WHEN
TODAY, Wednesday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
Outside the Louisville archdiocesan headquarters (aka the chancery), 212 E. College St. (corner of South Brook St.) in Louisville KY
WHO
Two-three men and women who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
Last month, a Louisville couple sued the Louisville Catholic diocese in a “whistleblower” case. On Monday that suit was amended to include charges that a convicted and defrocked pedophile priest was until recently the parish council chairman at the church where the “whistleblower” was fired.
In 2007, Bruce Ewing, an ex-priest, was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl in the 1970s. Ewing, who also spent years working for the city as an aldermanic aide, is now on Kentucky's sex offender registry. Church officials claim Ewing is a member of St. Therese’s but they’re not clear on his exact role on a parish panel.
The case was filed by Gary and Margie Weiter. Ms. Weiter says she was fired from her bookkeeping job at the parish (and Mr. Weiter from a volunteer position at the parish) when they complained about Fr. James Schook living at the rectory. Schook had been removed from another parish after credible allegations he sexually abused five boys.
In 2002, America’s Catholic bishops pledged to better protect kids from clergy predators and promised to do background checks and finger printing on employees and volunteers. SNAP believes the Louisville archbishop has violated that pledge. He should apologize for and explain this irresponsible move. And, SNAP feels, he should severely discipline those responsible. (When bishops ignore or minimized wrongdoing, SNAP believes, they essentially endorse and encourage wrongdoing.)
SNAP also wants Archbishop Kurtz to personally visit every parish where both Ewing and Schook have worked begging anyone who has seen, suspected or suffered their misdeeds to come forward start seeking help and talk with law enforcement.
The Weiters are represented by attorney Mikell Grafton. (SNAP is not a party to this, or any, lawsuit.)
CONTACT
Colleen Powell, Louisville SNAP director, 502 479 0246, [email protected]
John Scott, Louisville SNAP member, 502-338-1669
David Clohessy of St. Louis MO, SNAP executive director, 314 566 9790, [email protected]
Barb Dorris of St. Louis, MO, SNAP outreach director, 314 503 0003, [email protected]
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org