He may have failed to report to probation officer

Leaders of Catholic religious order kept priest’s re-offense a secret

Just last week, they praised their “monitoring” program

SNAP to Prosecutor: Investigate and see if cleric can now be locked up

Church officials owe citizens and Catholics an explanation, group says


WHEN:
Monday, August 21, 11:00 A.M.

WHERE:
In front of the US headquarters of an international Catholic order called the Salvatorians, 1735 North Hi-Mount Boulevard, Milwaukee

WHO:

Several victims of sexually abusive priests who are leaders of a support group for sexual abuse victims called SNAP, including the organization’s Midwest Director.

WHAT:
After a sidewalk news conference, clergy child molestation victims will try to hand-deliver a letter to Catholic officials of the Salvatorian Order urging them to explain to parishioners and the public why a local child porn-possessing priest spent more than a month in jail recently for violating his probation agreement.

SNAP leaders are also wanting to know from prosecutors why the cleric, Brother Jim Rice was not placed in prison for violating his probation. Rice pleaded guilty to 8 counts of felony 1 possession of child pornography last year but was given only a stayed prison sentence. According to the terms of his probation, if he violated his court order he should have been placed in prison for 2 years of each of his first four counts for a total of 8 years.

Rice has been a principle in several Milwaukee Catholic grade schools. He is currently listed on the state's sex offender registry site as "non-compliant."

Local SNAP leaders were at the Salvatorian national headquarters in Milwaukee just last Thursday urging the order to explain the international disappearance of fugitive priest, Fr. Joseph Henn, who was once stationed at St. Pius X parish in Wauwatosa and wanted on 13 counts of child sexual assault in Arizona (see story posted below).

In response, Fr. David Bergner, the newly elected head of the Salvatorians wrote SNAP's Midwest Director Thursday praising the order's sex offender "monitoring" program.

After the press conference, victims will be contacting E. Michael McCann, the Milwaukee county prosecutor, asking him to investigate Rice's parole violation and see if he can be imprisoned for his offense.

The Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is the nation's oldest and largest organization of clergy sexual abuse survivors, founded in 1989 with over 7,000 members in 53 chapters. To learn more about SNAP go to SNAPnetwork.org.

CONTACT:
Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director, 414-429-7259
Mike Sneesby, 414-915-4374