One Of His Victim Speaks Publicly For The First Time

In Front of Youngster, Priest Had Sex With Other Boys & Priests

He Ties A St. Louis Pedophile Cleric For The Most Molestation Lawsuits

WHAT:
At a sidewalk news conference, two clergy molestation victims will announce the three latest of 19 civil child sex abuse lawsuit against a retired Kansas City area Catholic priest.

WHEN:
TODAY, Thursday, Aug. 25, 11:15 a.m.

WHERE:
Outside Guardian Angels Parish on Mercier & 43rd in the Westport area of Kansas Citiy MO 

WHO:
Three clergy abuse victims including a St. Joseph man who is the plaintiff in one of the three new lawsuits, a Kansas City man who is a former priest and was abused by a priest, and a St. Louis man who heads the nation's largest support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)

WHY:
When he was between 12 and 13 years old (in 1979-80), helping out at the St. Elizabeth's Church rectory in Kansas City, Craig Wilkerson reports that he was repeatedly given wine, marijuana, pornography and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Monsignor Thomas O'Brien. His newly-filed civil molestation lawsuit, filed in Jackson County Court, also says that O'Brien had sex with another credibly accused and often sued local pedophile cleric, Fr. Thomas Reardon, in front of Wilkerson.

With this lawsuit, O'Brien "ties" a recently defrocked St. Louis archdiocesan priest, Michael S. McGrath, who has also faced 19 civil molestation suits.

Both men are still alive, neither have been criminally charged, although a recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling might enable prosecutors to seek justice for some of their victims.

O'Brien worked at Guardian Angel and at a nearby orphanage. He now lives at 11505 Oak Street, Apartment #101, Kansas City MO 64114.

The Kansas City diocese, which is also named as a defendant in each of the cases,  is represented by Kansas City attorneys at the firm of Lathrop & Gage. O'Brien's victims are represented by Kansas City attorney Rebecca Randles.

Wilkerson, the victim, is speaking publicly about his victimization for the first time today.

SNAP is the nation's largest support group for clergy molestation victims.

CONTACT:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Coordinator 314 862 768