TX- Accused rapist given Cathedral job

For immediate release: Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])

San Angelo Bishop Michael Sis has quietly put Fr. Steven E. Hicks on the job at Sacred Heart Cathedral, despite the fact that Fr. Hicks was accused of attempted rape. 

In 2012 Fr. Hicks was suspended from his position at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA after allegations of sexual abuse were made by a sailor in the United States Navy. His victim was later granted a restraining order after Fr. Hicks allegedly threatened him.

We suspect the bishop warned no one about the allegations against Fr. Hicks. We urge Bishop Sis to immediately reverse this action and remove Fr. Hicks. We also urge him to immediately reach out to victims and witnesses using his vast resources.

We urge anyone who saw, suspects or suffered crimes by Fr. Hicks to come forward and report to police. 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])