WHAT:
Clergy sex abuse victims will hand out leaflets door-to-door warning residents that for seven months this year an abusive priest from Kansas lived and worked at the local Catholic church. Parishioners both here and in Kansas were deceived about why he moved, and were not told about his 2004 assault on a parishioner nor about the substantial financial settlement against him reached just four months ago.
WHEN:
TODAY, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1:15 p.m.
WHERE:
Starting at St. Ambrose Catholic Church (771-1228), 5130 Wilson Street on the Hill in south St. Louis
WHO:
Several men and women who were sexually abused by clerics and who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including the group’s national director
WHY:
In the summer of 2004, Fr. Nicholas Voelker of the Wichita diocese twice sexually assaulted a parishioner, Peggy Warren, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Wichita, KS. In August 2004, to protect herself, Warren received a 'Protection From Abuse' Order against Voelker from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Department.
After reporting Voelker’s crimes to Wichita Catholic officials, the priest was sent to St. Ambrose Catholic church in St. Louis where he worked and lived for seven months (Jan. 2005-July 2005). Voelker’s Kansas parishioners were told he was sent to St. Louis for health reasons. Voelker’s St. Louis parishioners were told he was here to go to school. But Wichita church officials allegedly sent the cleric here for "treatment" because of the sexual assaults.
In June 2005, Warren received a substantial settlement from church authorities because of the assault, Shewas represented by attorneys Denis Ventriglia (910-256-0040) and Mike Hepperly (316-267-5330).
She also reported the crimes to Detective Scott Wiswell (316-268-4156) of the Wichita police. Next week, he is scheduled to discuss the potential criminal case with the local prosecutor.
In August, Voelker was promoted to pastor at St. Rose parish. Last month, Wichita’s Bishop went to St. Rose to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the parish and Priesthood Sunday with Voelker and included Voelker’s picture and article in the diocesan newspaper. http://www.cdowk.org/catholic_advance/111105advance.pdf
SNAP's leaflets urge neighbors and Catholics to ask friends and family if any of them may have been hurt by Voelker. If so, witnesses and victims are being urged to contact the police.
A similar news conference is being held at roughly the same time in Wichita.
This is the second time in a week questions have been raised about an allegedly abusive priest who was sent to St. Louis from elsewhere. In the other case, Fr. Joseph R. Monahan worked in a south city parish until just two months ago when a Philadelphia grand jury report named him as an accused molester. He remained in active ministry for almost 3.5 years despite the accusation, which was never made public until September, when the grand jury published its lengthy and scathing report on the archdiocesan cover up.
VISUALS:
The group will have a photo of the priest, copies of the settlement agreement and protective order.
CONTACT:
David Clohessy 566 9790, Barb Dorris 862 7688
Peggy Warren of Wichita KS 316-993-4675
Janet Patterson of Conway Springs, KS - SNAP National Board Member 620-456-2330; 316-772-6537
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