Toledo Man To Tell Of The Loss of His Sister

Clergy Abuse Victims Support Group To Meet In Chicago

Clergy sex abuse victims will hear from a Toledo man whose sister was murdered by a Catholic priest at a conference this weekend in Chicago. Three other families who lost relatives to murderous clergy will also speak at the event.

It is sponsored by a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Lee Pahl will join loved ones of others who were allegedly murdered by priests from Massachusetts and Wisconsin and a nun from New York on a panel discussion and at a news conference. He is the brother of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, who was murdered on April 5, 1980 in the chapel of a Toledo hospital by Fr. Gerald Robinson.

It is the first time the families have come together to speak about their losses and these crimes.
SNAP will highlight a fifth murder case by a Catholic priest in Texas. All five of the cases have been reported in local newspapers but have received little national media attention. Two of the five cases have been formally adjudicated, with one of the murderers behind bars (the other committed suicide). In four of the five, the sexual abuse by the alleged killers has been documented.

SNAP believes that violent crimes by abusive clergy are more common than many realize. Last week, a monk in Omaha tried to commit suicide. Years ago, he murdered his three year old daughter. http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1000&u_sid=2326365

• Last week, a fugitive Las Vegas priest was arrested for attempted murder, sexual assault and other crimes he committed. http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=43092
• Earlier this month, Orlando police revealed that a Florida priest who'd been quietly suspended under deceptive terms is being investigated for allegedly raping an adult man last fall. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD04013107.htm

The weekend conference will also include presentations from experts in the field of healing from abuse as well as support group meetings.

Relatives of these other victims will attend and speak at the event:

• Dan O'Connell and James Ellison were shot and killed in 2002 in Hudson Wisconsin by Father Ryan Erickson. After police questioned him, Erickson committed suicide. A judge later ruled that Erickson committed the two murders. He had also been accused of molesting kids. http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_272183721.html Dan O'Connell's sister will speak at the event.
• Danny Croteau was murdered in Massachusetts at age 13. Police believe that Fr. Richard R. Lavigne murdered Danny. Lavigne has been repeatedly sued for molesting boys and has been defrocked. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/24/60II/main697498.shtml Danny's parents will speak at the event.
• Gilbert Bonneau's family believes that he was murdered at age 8 in a New York orphanage by a nun after another nun had severely beaten him. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_07_12/2005_10_17_Bolton_SearchingFor.htm A family friend who investigated the crime will speak at the event.

This summer, SNAP will hold its national conference in Washington DC from July 20 to July 22. For more information about either event, please contact the SNAP office at 312-455-1499.

For immediate release: Tuesday, February 13, 2007
For more information: David Clohessy 314 566 9790, Barbara Dorris 314 862 7688