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WHAT:
At a sidewalk news conference, religious child sex abuse victims and supporters will announce a new sexual abuse suit against a Des Moines Catholic priest and the diocese, and will:
- express support for the alleged victim and his family;
- urge anyone who witnessed, suspected or experienced clergy sex abuse crimes to contact law enforcement; and
- Will reach out to others who were sexually abused by religious people.
WHEN:
Wednesday, January 18, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE:
East side of Polk County Courthouse, 5th and Court Avenue in Des Moines
WHO:
A handful of survivors and supporters who belong to a support group called SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
WHY:
Iowa SNAP leaders learned late Tuesday that a civil lawsuit was filed on behalf of a "John Doe" against Fr. Albert Wilwerding who reportedly died in 2004.
According to the suit, Wilwerding was transferred from parish to parish by Des Moines church officials who knew of Wilwerding's propensity to abuse.
"John Doe need not to have been a victim had only the Diocesan officials had the courage to report Wilwerding's actions to law enforcement," said Steve Theisen of Hudson, IA and Iowa SNAP Director. "Instead, the Diocesan officials kept quite, shuffled Wilwerding to parishes with unsuspecting children and trusting parents, and John Doe has unnecessarily suffered a life of consequences because of the abuse."
Doe's suit was filed by attorney Patrick J. Hopkins of West Des Moines (515) 327-1750.
Wilwerding's employment history is below.
CONTACT:
Steve Theisen of Hudson, Iowa SNAP Director, 319 231 1663
David Clohessy of St. Louis, MO- SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, MO - SNAP Outreach Director 314 862 7688
Wilwerding's History:
(according to the Official Catholic Directory)
1956 Ordained; St. Ambrose Cathedral-Des Moines, Iowa; St. Bonifice Parish, Westphalia, Iowa
1957 St. Bonifice Parish, Westphalia, Iowa; St. Peter &Paul's, Atlantic, Iowa
St. Francis, Council Bluffs, Iowa
1958 St. Francis, Council Bluffs, Iowa
1959 St. Francis, Council Bluffs, Iowa
1960 St. Francis, Council Bluffs, Iowa; St. Patrick's, Perry, Iowa
1961 St. Patrick's, Perry, Iowa
1962 St. Patrick's, Perry, Iowa; St. Mary's , Portsmouth, Iowa
1963 St. Mary's , Portsmouth, Iowa
1964 St. Mary's , Portsmouth, Iowa
1965 St. Mary's , Portsmouth, Iowa; All Saint, Des Moines, Iowa
1966 All Saint, Des Moines, Iowa
1967 All Saint, Des Moines, Iowa
1968 All Saint, Des Moines, Iowa
1969 All Saint, Des Moines, Iowa; St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa
1970 St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa
1971 St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa
1972 St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa
1973 St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa
1974 St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa
1975 St. Mary's &St. Augustine's, Milo and Rosemount, Iowa; St. Bonifice, Westphalia, Iowa
1976 St. Bonifice, Westphalia, Iowa; St. Peter's , Council Bluffs, Iowa
1977 St. Peter's , Council Bluffs, Iowa; St. Patrick's, Imogene, Iowa
1978 St. Patrick's, Imogene, Iowa; St. Mary's, Shenandoah, Iowa
1979 St. Mary's, Shenandoah, Iowa
1980 St. Mary's, Shenandoah, Iowa; St. John's Basilica, Des Moines, Iowa
1981 St. John's Basilica, Des Moines, Iowa
1982 St. John's Basilica, Des Moines, Iowa
1983 St. John's Basilica, Des Moines, Iowa
1984 St. John's Basilica, Des Moines, Iowa
November, 1984, sent to Paraclete Institution
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004 Died September 26, 2004 |
