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WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will
-- disclose and discuss an explicit new sex abuse lawsuit against the Kansas City Catholic Diocese, and
-- urge local Catholics to donate directly to schools and charities, but stop donating to the diocese.
WHEN
TODAY, Wednesday, July 6, 1:15 p.m.
WHERE
Outside diocesan headquarters (chancery office), 3600 East 36th Street (south lawn) in Kansas City MO
WHO
Three or four survivors of clergy sexual abuse who are members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (including the group's national director from St. Louis)
WHY
In 1980, Father Thomas Reardon sexually assaulted a then 16 year old boy in the rectory of St. Gabriel's Church in east Kansas City.
In somewhat unusual and explicit language, the lawsuit alleges that church officials
-- in 1969, knew Reardon was abusing kids "as early as 1969," just a few years after he was ordained,
-- in 1989, searched Reardon's quarters at St. Regis, removing evidence including pornography, alcohol and cash,
-- in 1995, lied to the victim, telling him that Reardon had died, and
-- in 2002, denied that Reardon was a pedophile, saying he "did older boys."
Copies of the new lawsuit will be available. It also names the diocese as a defendant.
The victim, who is married and still lives in the area, will NOT be present, but a statement he wrote will be read aloud.
Reardon, who still lives in the area, worked at two other churches in Kansas City (Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, St. Elizabeth's) and one in Buckner (Santa Fe Church). He faces multiple civil lawsuits, and has been suspended as a priest and as a substance abuse counselor for Johnson County. In 1989, he was also accused of misusing church funds.
Attorneys for the victim include Rebecca Randles (816 931 9901). Attorneys for the diocese include Jonathan R. Haden and James P. Teirney of Lathrop & Gage. None of them will be present at the news conference.
CONTACT
Mike Hunter of Kansas City, SNAP Local Leader (913) 634 8427 cell
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Coordinator (314) 862-7688
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