One came forward just weeks ago, the other just months ago

The predator is notorious KC Catholic cleric who still lives in the area

Sixteen have now sued "party priest" who acted in concert with colleague

Self help group blasts bishop for on-going legal delays while others settle

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

• discuss two new civil lawsuits against a notorious serial pedophile priest who is suspended from active ministry but not defrocked, and
• harshly criticize a Catholic bishop for deliberately delaying child molestation cases while most other bishops across the country are settling them.

WHEN
Thursday, Dec. 20, 11:15 a.m.

WHERE
Outside the diocesan headquarters ('chancery office'), 300 E. 36th Street, Kansas City

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

WHY
Both men were repeatedly molested when they were between 11 and 13 in the 1960s and 1970s by Fr. Thomas Reardon. Just last month (11/24), the Kansas City Star published a lengthy report on the alleged crimes and sex parties Reardon and another suspended KC priest (Msgr. Thomas O'Brien) often threw at a cabin on Lake Viking 60 miles northeast of Kansas City in Davies County. Several victims and witnesses charge that the two clerics plied vulnerable kids with liquor, played sex games and offered them money for sex.

After years of delaying maneuvers by church lawyers, several civil lawsuits against the two are approaching trial dates.

In today's suits, one boy reports being abused at St. Gabriel's parish for three years. The other was victimized at St. Elizabeth's parish in on 75th when he was 12 (essentially the first time he met Reardon).

Reardon was ordained in 1967 and also worked at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and St. John Francis Regis parish. (Throughout much of the 1970s, both O'Brien and Reardon worked at St. Elizabeth's.)

The victims are represented by attorney Rebecca Randles (816 931 9901).

CONTACT:

David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director, 314 566 9790