SNAP to parishioners: “Give to local schools & charities, not archdiocese”

Impassioned plea is being sent to dozens of parishes via e mail and fax

Priest-predator walks free today, despite a jury's guilty verdict and five accusers

Archbishop uses $500,000 in donations to keep convicted molester out of prison

Missouri Supreme Court to hear cleric’s appeal for a new trial next week

What:
A year ago, a convicted abusive priest walked out of court a free man (and is still free today) thanks to a $500,000 bond paid by donations from local Catholics. On the anniversary of that unprecedented move, clergy molestation will publicly

• beg local Catholics to show disapproval of the misuse of their contributions by donating directly to schools and charities, instead of to the archdiocese, and
• beg Archbishop Raymond Burke to reconsider his decision to let the predator walk free.(Next week, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear the priest’s appeal for a new trial.)
  

When:
TODAY, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 1:30 p.m.

Where:
Outside the archdiocesan chancery office, 4445 Lindell near Taylor in the CWE

Who:
Several clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

Visual:
The group will hold a large poster with Graham’s assignments and 300 pages of legal arguments, pro & con, that have been submitted to the Supreme Court.

Why:
Last September, a St. Louis city jury recommended that Fr. Thomas Graham be sentenced to 20 years in prison for molesting a boy. But thanks to an unprecedented $500,000 bond posted by the Archdiocese, Graham continues to walk free pending appeal. His request for a new trial will be heard next Wednesday in Jefferson City by the state Supreme Court.

SNAP says that never before have church officials paid to keep a convicted pedophile priest out of prison. Earlier this year, SNAP took out newspaper ads telling local Catholics that “by your silence and donations, you are helping a convicted child molester walk free.”

SNAP believes Graham may have violated other laws. Immediately after his trial, he moved to a retirement center in Shrewsbury, near a day care center. (State law bars sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a children’s facility.) After SNAP objected, church officials moved him to an undisclosed facility.

Sex offenders in Missouri are required to register with the state within ten days of their conviction, but Graham initially refused to do so. His lawyer claimed that the law didn’t apply to Graham. Ultimately, though, the priest did register.

Graham has been represented by St. Louis attorneys Art Margolis and Chris Goeke. His is now represented by attorney Robert Haar. Ed Postacko of the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office prosecuted Graham.

Contact:

David Clohessy 645 5915, 566 9790 cell

Barb Dorris 862 7688, 503-0003 cell