Clergy sex abuse victims want him put in a secure treatment center

They urge Catholic officials to force him to move into monitored setting

Group also urges parents whose kids attend Jesuit schools to be vigilant

SNAP also wants alums of Catholic schools to reach out to others who've been molested

Former students and staff should question colleagues "Did see, suspect or experience abuse?"

WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will

• harshly criticize and prod Catholic officials to put a convicted abusive priest in a remote, secure facility
• urge current and former staff and students at Chicago area Jesuit schools to help reach out to others who may have been molested, and
• prod parents of current Jesuit students to remain vigilant and push school adminstrators to report suspected abuse promptly to police

WHEN
TODAY, Thursday, Aug. 23, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE
Outside St. Ignatius high school, 1076 West Roosevelt Road, near downtown Chicago

WHO
Three members of a self help group called SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

WHY
Fr. Donald J. McGuire, who was convicted of molesting two boys and sued this week for molesting a third, lives with a friend in Chicago's Oaklawn neighborhood. He's free while his conviction is being appealed.

SNAP believes this is irresponsible and reckless, especially since a) allegations against McGuire were lodged with church officials at least as early as 1969 and b) a civil sex abuse lawsuit against McGuire filed this week contends he ws molesting a teenager as recently as 2003, on a nearly daily basis.

McGuire is still a priest and his superiors haven't indicated whether they are trying to have him defrocked. SNAP feels McGuire is a potential danger and should be forced by his superiors into a secure, independent treatment facility for sex offenders, far away from trusting Catholic families he may have ingratiated himself with.

SNAP leaders also want parents who are sending their kids to Jesuit schools to demand prudence and transparency by school and church officials.

Archdiocesan officials acted with similar recklessness with another notorious Chicago pedophile priest, Fr. Daniel McCormack, who was allowed to live with relatives even though he faced multiple abuse allegations, several civil molestation suits, and active, recent criminal abuse charges. Catholic officials have a moral duty, the group feels, to keep abusive priests in remote facilities run by professionals, not living with friends or family with no training in handling sex offenders.

The group is at Ignatius today because it's a Jesuit school, and because one McGuire victim (identified in court as John Doe 84) was sent to Ignatius after he told a Chicago priest that McGuire was molesting him in 1969. They also believe that a top Jesuit official, Fr. James Gschwind, who failed to report the most recent McGuire victim to police, may have also worked at Ignatius.

SNAP also wants Jesuit alums to do waht Jesuiit officiasl refuse to do: aggeressively seek out former classmates and ask if tjhey saw, suspected or experienced abuse by clerics.

CONTACT
Barbara Blaine, SNAP President, 312 399 4747 cell
David Clohessy, SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell
Jerry Hutchinson, Chicago SNAP Leader 708 829 6790
Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director 314 503 0003 cell