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WHAT:
Holding signs, clergy molestation victims will announce a new civil sexual abuse lawsuit against a St. Louis priest who gave a boy a sexually transmitted disease and faces at least four other accusers.
They will also;
- criticize a Catholic nun and school principal who pledged to help them find other victims but reneged on her promise.
- discuss fears that a disproportionate number of abusive clerics were sent to minority communities and dozens more victims in those communities have yet to come forward.
WHEN:
TODAY, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Outside Central Catholic School, 1106 North Jefferson (near Carr)
WHO:
Several survivors of clergy sexual abuse (and family members) who are members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
WHY:
From 1974 to 1979, Father James Thiel, a Redemptorist priest, repeatedly abused a boy at St. Alphonsus "Rock" Church at Grand & Cook in midtown St. Louis (the former parish of Father Maurice Nutt, who was removed several years ago amid allegations of sexual misconduct).
SNAP knows of four other boys who were victimized by Theil. One of them has received a financial settlement, another has a civil suit pending. http://www.woodtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2155048&nav=0RcePi5g
Thiel’s name was first made public as a molester when a civil suit was filed against him in St. Louis on April 28, 2004. That boy was molested at St. Paul the Apostle parish in Pine Lawn (which has since been closed).
Theil is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan and is believed to be living there now. He taught at Central Catholic grade school on Jefferson (Principal Gail Trippett 314-231-6254) and also worked at Catholic schools in Grand Rapids Michigan (1984-1994) and in New York City.
Trippett met with SNAP members in the spring of 2004, and promised them she'd help contact Central Catholic alums who might have been victimized. But since then, she has refused to return the group's phone calls or letters.
Theil's religious order, The Redemptorists, is based in Denver (303 370 0035, information@redemptorists-denver.org).
The victim, filing as John Doe, is now in his 40s, is single and disabled and lives in the St. Louis area.
The lawsuit, filed in St. Louis city circuit court, seeks a jury trial, and both compensatory and punitive damages. Other defendants include Archbishop Raymond Burke and the St. Louis archdiocese.
CONTACT:
David Clohessy 566 9790 cell, 645 5915 home
Barbara Dorris 862 7688
Ken Chackes of St. Louis (attorney) 872 8420
Susan Carlson of St. Louis (attorney) 314 872 8420, 314 520 7732 cell
Pat Noaker of St. Paul (attorney) 612 961 1307 cell, 651 227 9990 work
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