WHAT:
After a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will hand deliver letters urging local Catholics officials and Boy Scout leaders to remove the name of an accused serial predator priest from a chapel built in his honor
WHEN:
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 10:45 a.m.
WHERE:
Outside the Catholic diocesan headquarters (chancery office), 3600 East 36th Street in Kansas City MO
WHO:
Two or three survivors of clergy sexual abuse who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (including the group's national director from St. Louis)
VISUALS:
The group will hold posters & photos of themselves as children.
WHY:
In 2000, local Boy Scout officials honored Fr. Sylvester Hoppe by naming a new chapel at Camp Geiger in near St. Joseph after him. Before his death in 2002, Hoppe was involved in Scouting for 75 years. (http://www.catholickey.org).
In the last three years, Hoppe’s faced at least three allegations of sexually abusing boys. The first involved a Valencia California man, Thomas Dorrell, whose civil molestation lawsuit was settled by the Kansas City diocese. Last month, two other men (Gary Lee Smith of Topeka, KS and Hank Talbot Union Star, MO) reported through lawsuits that Hoppe abused them in the 1950s in St. Joseph. They have filed similar abuse charges and those suits are still pending.
Others have since come forward and are likely to pursue lawsuits as well.
SNAP members believe it is hurtful and intimidating to victims when accused child molesters are publicly honored. They are asking KC church officials and Scout officials to remove Hoppe’s name from the chapel.
Later today in St. Joseph, the group will hold a similar news conference at 1:45 p.m. outside the Boy Scouts headquarters at 1704 Buckingham (816 233 1351).
Several weeks ago, SNAP made a similar request of the Cheyenne WY Catholic bishop. His diocese has a children’s home named after a former Kansas City cleric who currently faces five civil abuse lawsuits. http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2005c/091605/091605j.htm
Hoppe was represented by Kansas City attorney James Wyrsch 816-221-0080. His victims are represented by Kansas City attorney Rebecca Randles 816 931 9901.
CONTACT:
Mike Hunter of Kansas City, SNAP Local Leader (913) 634 8427 cell
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Coordinator (314) 862-7688 |
