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Press Release: Final plea for help made to Steubenville's Catholic bishop
For immediate release: Wednesday, August 6th
Clergy sex
abuse victims give bishop 24 hour deadline
Victim in Israel,
abused here, making plans to fly back & testify
Authorities
want her to talk with grand jury but flights are expensive
Six
weeks ago, Steubenville's top Catholic official was asked to help
out
But he still 'won't give a straight answer,' self-help group
says, so they ask again
A support group for clergy sex abuse
victims is making one final plea to Steubenville's Catholic bishop for help, and
giving him 24 hours to make a decision.
Leaders of SNAP, the
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are sending a letter by fax and e
mail today to Bishop R. Daniel Conlon, asking him to pay for a round trip plane
ticket for a former southeastern Ohio Catholic woman who says she was molested
as a child by a Steubenville diocesan priest.
The woman, Beth Rocker,
now lives in Israel. But Guernsey County prosecutor wants to talk with her
face-to-face about her charges against Fr. Gary Zalenski.
Six weeks
ago, Rocker’s attorney wrote Conlon asking him to pay for her plane ticket. Two
weeks ago, Conlon finally replied, essentially saying he’d consider the request.
But SNAP feels time is running out and Conlon needs to make a
decision.
"It's sad that the bishop won't give a straight answer and
agree to help," said Judy Jones, SNAP director of Southeastern Ohio. "If Rocker
is telling the truth, Conlon can help police, prosecutors, and children by
getting her back home so that a dangerous predator can be jailed. If Rocker is
lying, Conlon can help an innocent priest clear his name."
Clohessy,
Jones, and other SNAP leaders believe Rocker. Church officials found Rocker's
report credible enough that they suspended Zalenski from active ministry last
November.
"Conlon is doing precisely what America's bishops have
almost always done with child sex cases - the bare minimum," said Clohessy, SNAP
National Director.
Conlon's letter also claims that 'the Diocese of
Steubenville must maintain an objective stance with regard to any legal
proceedings'.
Clohessy said he doesn't buy Conlon's
argument.
“Helping law enforcement get information about alleged
crimes isn't taking sides. It's our civic duty," he said, "This is just a
smokescreen by Conlon to excuse his "do nothing posture".
“We are
confident that Rocker is not the only victim of Zalenski," said Jones. "We
encourage others who saw, suspected, or suffered from Zalenski's sex crimes to
come forward, get help, an call police".
When victims and witnesses
speak up, “there is a chance for healing and prevention,” said Jones. “But when
they stay silent, abuse continues.”
Regardless of what Conlon
decides, Jones is hopeful that Rocker will find a way back to
Ohio.
If Conlon doesn’t help, SNAP says another victim is willing to
loan Rocker the funds. The group will them write to and approach other
Steubenville church employees and members for donations to reimburse the
donor.
"If law enforcement determines that Beth's lying, we'll raise
the funds to pay Conlon back," said Judy Jones.
“We’ll do whatever
it takes to help law enforcement move forward,” said Clohessy
“It’s
just terribly disappointing that Conlon apparently doesn’t share our desire, and
the prosecutor’s need, to get to the truth here.”
Rocker’s is
represented by Cincinnati attorney Konrad Kircher
Contacts:
Judy Block
Jones of St. Louis, SNAP Director Southeastern Ohio 636-433-2511
Helen
Schoeppner of Marietta, SNAP Leader Steubenville 740-568-8213
Barbara
Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Coordinator home: 314-862-7688 cell: 314-503-0003
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314-566-9790
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