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WHAT:
- Holding signs and photos, clergy sex abuse victims will
- announce and discuss an unusual new civil sex abuse lawsuit against two predators - a former Cub Scout leader and a former Catholic priest - both of whom knowingly molested the same boy.
- criticize and prod church and Scout leaders to warn others about one of the molesters and reach out to other victims, and
- try to hand deliver a letter to and talk with Scout officials.
WHEN:
TODAY, Tuesday, July 19, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Outside the Boy Scouts headquarters, 4568 West Pine (just east of Euclid) in the Central West End
WHO:
A lawyer and leaders and members of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), a support group
WHY:
In the early 1970s, while he was an 12 or 13 year old parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Crystal City, a boy was sexually abused by Robert E. Oberle and Father Norman Christian. Both adults often “skinny-dipped” with boys on Oberle's property on Pattin Creek in Jefferson County. At separate times, both adults put their mouths on the boy's penis.
In April, two other men filed lawsuits against Christian, saying he repeatedly sexually molested them in the 1970s. They charge that Oberle witnessed but did not stop their abuse.
This is the first time, however, that Oberle has been accused of being a molester himself. He lives at 1313 Horine Rd. in Festus (63028) and is believed to be a retired firefighter. In April, Oberle was suspended from his position as a Scout leader (Pack 426, in Festus). He was not in Scouting when he abused in the 1970s.
For months, SNAP members have quietly been trying to persuade the local Scout hierarchy to warn others about Oberle and reach out to his victims. They repeatedly asked to meet with Scout officials, but were rebuffed, meeting once with the Scouts' PR director. The group is highly critical of the Scouts, and Catholic officials as well, for apparently doing nothing to protect others from Oberle.
In December, the archdiocese settled at least one lawsuit against Christian. That settlement became controversial when the victim, Tim Fischer of Jefferson County, was forced to publicly pressure Archbishop Raymond Burke to write an apology letter which was mandated as part of the agreement. It took the archbishop two months to actually send the letter.
Christian, who worked in roughly ten area parishes, passed away in Oct. of 2004. In an unprecedented move, several of Christian’s family members reached out, through SNAP, to the priest’s victims. (See Bill McClellan column: http://www.snapmidwest.org/htm/nchristian.htm
Photos of Christian and Oberle (in his Scout uniform) are available at http://www.snapmidwest.org/htm/FRChristianRobertE.Oberle.htm
The victim in this case still lives in this area but will NOT be present at the news conference.
CONTACT
David Clohessy 566 9790, 645 5915, Barbara Dorris 862 7688
Ken Chackes or Susan Carlson (attorneys) 872 8420
Tim Fischer (SNAP member and victim of Christian, not suing), home 636 933 2467, cell 314 566 9262
Carol Kuhnert (SNAP supporter and Christian's sister) 636 583 4924
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