They Oppose Arbitrary Deadline For Victims To Come Forward

Bishop Should Also “Meet With & Listen To Your Flock,” Groups Say

They Again Push For Open Meetings Across Diocese About Bankruptcy

WHAT:

At a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims and Catholics will blast Davenport Catholic officials for "choosing delay over healing, secrecy over openness, and legal maneuvers over pastoral compassion" by seeking bankruptcy protection. They will also publicly ask

• church authorities to NOT seek an arbitrary deadline ("bar date") that will penalize victims still trapped in shame and self-blame,
• church members to keep pushing the bishop to disclose their finances to independent sources so that the diocese's true fiscal situation can be verified &
• victims and witnesses to keep coming forward, despite this hurtful step by the bishop

WHEN:

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Outside of Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 East 10th Street in Davenport on the south side of the building

WHO:

A Catholic priest, and two groups - one of concerned Catholics (the Davenport-based Catholics for Spiritual Healing) and another of clergy sex abuse victims (who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY:

When three other Catholic dioceses have gone into bankruptcy court, bishops have sought and won arbitrary deadlines, past which victims can't come forward and get help. These groups consider such deadlines very harmful to fragile and deeply wounded victims and totally contrary to Jesus' teachings. They may seek to formally intervene in the court proceedings to stop any such "bar date."

Yesterday, and two years ago, leaders of the two groups publicly begged Davenport's Catholic bishop William Franklin to open his financial records and hold open meetings throughout his diocese before deciding whether to seek bankruptcy protection. Both times, Franklin ignored their requests.

Leaders of the groups consider Franlin's legal maneuver a radical, risky step that may prolong the pain so many Catholics and victims still feel, and delay the healing so many Catholics and victims deeply deserve.

They want Franklin to speak directly with them and listen openly to parishioners about the legal move, instead of hiding behind PR firms and defense lawyers. They also fear that complex legal maneuvers would mire all parties – victims, parishioners, clergy and diocesan employees - in a long-standing festering wound, instead of bringing a prompt and just resolution.

CONTACT:

Ann Green of Dewitt, 563 357 4206, 563 659 9388

David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915

Barbara Dorris of St. Louis 314 862 7688

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/sns-ap-diocese-bankruptcy