Dozens of ‘abusive’ local priests sued-SNAP presser Thurs 7/25 @ 1:15 pm

Dozens more local priests sued for abusing kids

The head of Omaha archdiocese is one of them

Among the accused: Archbishop, nuns & others

At least ten have never been publicly ‘outed’ before

One person says he was assaulted just 9 years ago on the Hill

Another says he was hurt by three previously-unnamed priests

Some crimes reportedly as recent as 2004, 2011 and 2015

SNAP: "Victims, witnesses & whistleblowers come forward!”

Victims beg archbishop to “help fill in victims’ memory gaps”

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
---discuss unprecedented, just-filed lawsuits against dozens of local allegedly abusive Catholic clerics (including nuns, priests and an archbishop), and

---reveal which of the accused are still alive and which are being publicly accused for the first time.

They will also urge St. Louis’ archbishop to

---‘help victims’ fill in their memory gaps’ by disclosing more information about known, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics and

---“aggressively” spread the word about the 10+ alleged predators who are being ‘outed’ for the first time and the 10+ whose full names are not yet publicly known.

And they will beg other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to ‘protect kids, help victims and start healing by talking with police, prosecutors, therapists, friends, family or support groups.

WHEN
Thursday, July 25 at 1:15 p.m.

WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the “new” cathedral, 4431 Lindell Blvd, (corner of Newstead) in the Central West End in St. Louis

WHO
Three-four adults who were sexually abused as kids and belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

VISUALS

Three posters will group the accused will be named on three posters:

--Clerics who are still alive,

--Clerics who have never been publicly accused before, and

--Clerics who HAVE been publicly accused before.

WHY
In five lawsuits filed yesterday, dozens of anonymous victims charge that they were sexually abused as kids by local priests, nuns and other Catholic personnel (including Archbishop George Lucas, who is now the head of the Omaha Archdiocese).

Several are being publicly accused of child sexual abuse for the first time. They include Fr. Bernard Suellentrop, Fr. John Rausch, Fr. James McLain, Fr. Edmund J. Fitzgibbons, Msgr. Fenton Joseph Runge, and Br. Ralph Wehner.

At least ten of the accused are still alive. They include Fr. Kevin Hederman, Fr. James Patrick Grady, Fr. Michael McGrath and Fr. Michael Toohey.

Several are nuns. They include Sister Annette (Holy Innocents Catholic Parish, 1992-2002), Sister Mary David Joseph (St. Edwards Catholic Church, 1961) and Sister Eileen (Blessed Sacrament School, 1977-1981).

Some have been found guilty in civil or criminal cases. They include Fr. Thomas Graham, Fr. James Beine and Fr. Donald Heck.

A few have been ‘outed’ as ‘credibly accused’ by local church officials on one or more diocesan or archdiocesan websites but have not, as best SNAP can tell, ever been sued before. They include Fr. Vincent Heier, Fr. John Rausch and Fr. Willliam F. Vatterott.

Some are identified only by partial names. They include Fr. Hart, Fr. Riker, Fr. Kennedy, Fr. Lyons, Fr. Bermann, Fr. Joe and Brother Anthoneous.

At least one was a parochial teacher, Gary Goehm, who once worked at DeSmet High School. Another was an employee of St. Joseph’s Boys Home in south St. Louis city.

One victim was reportedly abused by three priests.

CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com

Doug Lay 314 646 9316