Families of Murderous Priests To Speak Out

 Clergy Abuse Victims Support Group to Meet in Chicago    CHICAGO, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Clergy abuse victims will hear fromfamilies of three individuals who allegedly lost their lives to murderousabusive Catholic clerics at a conference in Chicago later this month.    The three day regional event will be held February 16-18 at the CrownePlaza Hotel - Chicago Metro (733 W Madison). It is sponsored by a supportgroup called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.    Loved ones of victims who were allegedly murdered by priests inWisconsin and Massachusetts and a nun in New York will hold a paneldiscussion and a news conference. It is the first time the families havecome together to speak about their losses and these crimes.    SNAP will highlight at least two other murder cases by Catholicpriests, one in Texas and another in Ohio. In the five cases, only one ofthe accused has been convicted (Fr. Gerald Robinson in Toledo Ohio. Hestrangled and stabbed a nun to death). In four of the five, the sexualabuse by the alleged killers has been documented.    SNAP believes that violent crimes by abusive clergy is more common thanmany realize. The day before yesterday, a monk in Omaha tried to commitsuicide. Years ago, he murdered his three year old daughter.http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1000&u_sid=2326365 Last week, a fugitive Las Vegas priest was arrested for attemptedmurder, sexual assault and other crimes he committed.http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=43092 Earlier this month, Orlando police revealed that a Florida priest who'dbeen quietly suspended under deceptive terms is being investigated forallegedly raping an adult man last fall. http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD04013107.htm(copy and past the above link into your browser)    The weekend conference will also include presentations from experts inthe field of healing from abuse as well as support group meetings.    Relatives of the following victims will attend and speak at the event:    -- Dan O'Connell and James Ellison were shot and killed in 2002 in Hudson       WI by Father Ryan Erickson. After police questioned him, Erickson       committed suicide. A judge later rule that Erickson committed the two       murders. He had also been accused of molesting kids. http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_272183721.html -- Danny Croteau was murdered in Massachusetts at age 13. Police believe       that Fr. Richard R. Lavigne murdered Danny. Lavigne has been repeatedly       sued for molesting boys and has been defrocked. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/24/60II/main697498.shtml -- Gilbert Bonneau's family believes that he was murdered at age 8 in a       New York orphanage by a nun after another nun had severely beaten him. http://www.bishop-       accountability.org/news2005_07_12/2005_10_17_Bolton_SearchingFor.htm       (copy and past the above link into your browser)    This summer, SNAP will hold its national conference in Washington DCfrom July 20 to July 22. For more information about either event, pleasecontact the SNAP office at 312-455-1499.    For more information: Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, Barbara Dorris 314862 7688