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Updated: October 28, 2004
In Clarksville, Tennessee, several dedicated SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests) activists, handed out flyers to the neighbors of David Kelley, a pedophile priest whofaces 38 civil suits, yet was not criminally charged due to the statute of limitations.
The flyers that say "Child Molester Alert" were handed out, dropped in mailboxes, and posted up on stop signs, phone polls, and anywhere else that would let people of the community know to be careful of their new neighbor. Kelley's address and a history of his catholic sexual abuse to minors were listed on the flyers.
Kelley was removed from the priestlyhood after the Diocese of Cincinnati (where Kelley was a priest for a decade) was convicted in November 2003 on five counts of failing to report the crimes of Kelley and another priest. As part of the plea, the church paid victims $3 million and agreed to turn over all of the personnel files on Kelley.
SNAP advocates say Kelley's case is an example of why the statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims should be eliminated. "It takes years for victims to come forward...they are traumatized and ashamed and shouldn't be penalized for that," says SNAP.
Everyone Thank SNAP Tennesse for taking such militant action against priests like David Kelley, and thank the Lead Croncile for running this article; which will no doubt scare other priests into not raping kids.
Angela Sachitanocovers education and can be reached by telephone at 245-0716 or at [email protected].
The article, published on October 16th, in a local Tennesse Newspaper, is available online by clicking here.
Way to go Tennessee SNAP!