WHAT:
At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will harshly criticize Indianapolis Catholic officials for repeatedly using delay tactics in an obscure civil molestation case against a priest
They will also urge:
- anyone else who was hurt by the priest to come forward and get help, and
- anyone who witnessed or suspected abuse by the priest to call the police, not the church.
WHEN:
Today, Monday, Aug. 14, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE:
Outside the Indianapolis Catholic archdiocese headquarters (aka chancery office), 1400 N. Meridian (corner of 14th Street) in Indianapolis
WHO:
The victim's Indiana attorney and two clergy molestation vicims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including the organization’s national director from St. Louis
WHY:
Unlike other abusive Indiana priests like Fr. Harry Monroe and Fr. Ron Voss, this accused cleric, Fr. Germain Belen has attracted little attention. Only one small news story has appeared about this civil lawsuit when it was filed three years ago in Marion County court. (See Indianapolis Star, 7/29/03) It alleges that Belen repeatedly molested a young girl at St. Benedict’s parish in Terre Haute where she and her family were parishioners. The victim, Gretchen Mayerhofer, is now 40 and lives in Placerville, California.
Since then, church defense lawyers have taken advantage of every legal maneuver possible to postpone having to disclose records about the predator. SNAP is harshly critical of the tactics being used by Archbishop Daniel Buechlein's lawyers.
Belen worked at parishes in Michigan, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, and Ohio. He belonged to a religious order known as the Franciscans. About two years ago, Belen passed away. He had been living near New Albany, Indiana.
CONTACT:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Ceil Shepley of Indianapolis, Indy SNAP Co-Director 317 844 2993, 317 513 8089 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director 314 503 0003 cell, 314 862 7688
Attorney Roger Pardieck of Seymour Indiana 812 525 8153 cell, 800 288 8678 work |
