Two top officials ‘decieve their flock’ about alleged rapist priest, group says

Self-help organization believes church hierarchy is “reckless with public safety”

It asks Catholic donors to “give generously, but not to diocesan authorities”

Other victims and witnesses ‘should come forward now,’ SNAP strongly urges

WHAT

• 
  At a sidewalk news conference, leaders of a support group for clergy molestation victims will
  
• blast Orlando’s Catholic bishop for his ‘secrecy and deceit’ about an alleged clergy sex crime,
  
• strongly urge local parishioners to stop donating to the diocese because of the bishop’s deceit,
  
• urge them to give generously and directly to agencies that help protect kids instead, and
  
• prod other victims and witnesses of an accused rapist priest to come forward and call police.

WHEN
TODAY, Friday, April 20, 1:15 p.m.

WHERE
Outside the diocesan chancery office, 50 East Robinson in Orlando

WHO
3-4 members of a support group for clergy molestation victims called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a California woman who is the organization’s long-time western regional director

WHY
The group is upset about Bishop Thomas Wenski’s deception regarding Fr. Carlos Bedoya, who was quietly suspended from active ministry in Deltona in November. A Volusia County sheriff’s complaint charges that Bedoya “participated in sexual battery against a man” along with a seminarian, David Estrada.

For weeks, church officials kept the criminal investigation and allegations secret. They were reported in January in the Orlando Sentinel.

In November, Wenski wrote Deltona parishioners that Bedoya was removed for “personal issues.” Later, diocesan chancellor Fr. Gregory Parkes told a reporter that Bedoya’s removal “is not due to inappropriate behavior with minors, or children, or anything like that." The next day, media accounts disclosed that Bedoya and a seminarian were under criminal investigation for the recent rape of a man.

Several weeks ago, SNAP wrote to Wenski urging him to apologize and explain his deceit. Wenski replied without apologizing or responding to specific suggestions the group made about urging victims and witnesses to come forward to law enforcement. SNAP members also distributed fliers around the Melbourne church where Bedoya worked, prodding victims and witnesses to speak out and get help.

SNAP strongly believes Wenski should actively help a police help solve the alleged rape by using his diocesan bulletins to bring forth witnesses & victims. They have also prodded Wenski to discipline any of his staff who “helped hide the truth” in this case, and personally visit each church where the alleged offender worked, and launch "vigorous outreach efforts" to locate others in the diocese who witnessed or experienced clergy sex crimes, by any church employees (past or present, lay or ordained). The bishop, however, has ignored each of these suggestions.

Bedoya was apparently involved in some controversy when he worked at a Haines City church. www.polkonline.com/stories/090903/loc_bishop.shtml

CONTACT
Mary Grant (626 419 2930)

David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell)

Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688)