Priest Was Accused of Sex Crimes For At Least Third Time Last Week

Kansas City Diocese Has Settled At Least Two Other Cases Against Him

Some of the Crimes Happened In Texas, Where Predator Taught

Self-Help Group Urges Other Victims & Witnesses To Come Forward

WHAT
After a sidewalk news conference in Kansas City, clergy molestation victims will drive to Independence and go door-to-door in a residential neighborhood handing out fliers and alerting families about a predator priest who lives there and who faces at least three accusers. A civil sex abuse lawsuit was filed against him just last week. The fliers urge anyone who witnessed, suspected or experienced his crimes to come forward, get help, and call police.

WHEN/WHERE
Wednesday, Dec. 20
- at 11:15 a.m. Outside the chancery (diocesan headquarters) at 300 East 36th Street, Kansas City, MO
- at 1:00 p.m., outside the predator’s home, 301 S. Shrank Ave., Independence

WHO
Two-three clergy abuse victims including a St. Louis man who is the national director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY
Last Thursday, a victim of Fr. John J. Tulipana sued the priest for repeatedly and violently raping him as a 12 year old boy at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Independence. Tulipana took the youngster to Texas where the abuse occurred. (Later Tulipana taught at the University of Dallas.)

In 1989, another man, Richard Durocher, told church officials Tulipana had abused him as a child years earlier, and provided diaries and a voice recording that corroborated his allegations. The diocese gave the young Durocher $150,000 but demanded that he sign a “gag order” that would prevent him from discussing the case. At the time, Durocher was promised that Tulipana would receive intensive therapy and children would be protected.

But Tulipana was allowed to remain a priest in active ministry with access to children.

Tulipana resigned in Feb. 1994 after the Star disclosed the payments. The diocese has admitted that others have come forward with sex abuse charges and they have settled with at least “several” of them.

SNAP is asking Bishop Finn to personally visit every parish where Tulipana worked and actively seek out other victims. They are urging him to use all the resources at his disposal- diocesan newspaper, church bulletins and the website for the diocese- to remind his parishioners that they have both a moral and a civil obligation to report to police if they have been abused, witnessed abuse or suspected abuse.

Tulipana worked in at least eight parishes since 1976, according to the Official Catholic Directory, including St. Catherine's at 4101 E. 105th Terrace; Holy Rosary in Clinton, Mo.; St. Augustine's at 7801 the Paseo; Christ the King at 85th Street and Wornall Road; Holy Trinity at 934 Norton Ave.; Coronation of Our Lady at 13000 Bennington Ave. in Grandview; and Nativity of Mary at 10017 E. 36th Terrace in Independence.

Tulipana is believed to be 59 and working as an insurance agent in the Lexington area.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16243512.htm

CONTACT
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell
Kay Goodnow of Kansas City, Kansas City SNAP Co-Director 913 709 9652 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director 314 862 7688, 314 503 0003 cell