Milwaukee clergy sex victims warn New Yorkers about Dolan, Benedict XVI's choice

Milwaukee clergy sex victims warn New Yorkers

They travel here as 'truth squad' about new archbishop

Self help group posts “open letter” to NY Catholics about Dolan

He’s the "same old, same old," victims say, but "with loads of charm"

SNAP predicts he'll keep even more secrets about NY clergy sex crimes

WHAT

At a sidewalk news conference, holding signs and childhood photos and other visuals, two Wisconsin clergy sex abuse victims will

-- release a critical “open letter to NY Catholics” about their new Catholic archbishop, blasting him for how he deals with pedophile priests,

-- discuss their extensive, first-hand experiences with him on child molestation cases,

-- describe 3 prevention & healing steps they want him to take before he leaves Milwaukee, &

-- urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy crimes to report to police, not the church

WHEN

Thursday, March 5, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE

Outside St. Patrick's Cathedral, 460 Madison Ave (at 5th) in Manhattan

WHO

Two Wisconsin clergy sex abuse victims who dealt with Archbishop Timothy Dolan and are leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) and several NY abuse victims and a leader of BishopAccountability.org, an independent research organization focused on the clergy sex abuse crisis.

WHY

During his six years in Wisconsin, victims and advocates report that Archbishop Timothy Dolan let known predators work in his archdiocese, refused to report accused child molesting clerics to police, and kept those who secretly transferred and protected pedophiles in high-ranking church jobs.

SNAP will release an updated, detailed two page report outlining Dolan’s specific misdeeds in Milwaukee, citing 27 cases that are public record. It cites 11 abusive Milwaukee clergy.

In just the last month, for instance, SNAP has ‘outed’ three credibly accused child-molesting clerics in the Milwaukee archdiocese whose crimes and whereabouts were essentially kept hidden under Dolan. One of them is a convicted sex offender yet apparently still a cleric ‘in good standing.’

Based on Dolan’s promises to root out sex offending clergy, many Milwaukee Catholics felt hopeful, just like many New York Catholics feel now. Their initial optimism, SNAP says, was quickly dashed. They argue that Dolan is a ‘master’ of public relations and symbolism, while quietly but effectively continuing to keep archdiocesan cover ups covered up.

One survivor who will speak was sexually assaulted by a priest as child in the Milwaukee archdiocese and has had extensive written and verbal communications with Dolan. The other, raped as a seven year old child by a Milwaukee priest, was chosen by Dolan to serve on the archbishop’s ‘Clergy Sexual Abuse Advisory Board,’ has also met personally with Dolan.

There have been 71 admitted clergy sex offenders operating in the Milwaukee Archdiocese over the past several decades with over 500 victims directly reporting to church officials.

CONTACT

Peter Isely, SNAP Midwestern Director 414-429-7259, John Pilmaier, Milwaukee SNAP Director, 414-336-8575, David Clohessy, SNAP National Director 314-566-9790, Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director 314-503-0003, Barbara Blaine, SNAP President 312-399-4747


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