Columbus Media Advisory 8-24-2010

Abuse Victims To Leaflet Church Where Predator Was

Recently-Arrested Cleric Worked in Central Ohio for 15 Years

Columbus Bishop Put Admitted Pedophile Priest on Leave in 1993

But He Didn't Warn Parishioners and Diocese Keeps Silent About Him Now

Self-Help Group Will Distribute Outreach Fliers As Parishioners Leave Mass

WHAT
As Catholics leave Mass, clergy molestation victims will hand out fliers about a former Columbus priest and admitted child molesting cleric who

---was arrested three weeks ago in Canada on child sex charges, and

---worked for at least 15 years in central Ohio.

The leaflets will:
---publicly urge Columbus Catholic bishop to go to churches where the child molesting cleric worked, urging parishioners to report information to police,
-- give all information, complaints and investigation documentation the diocese has on the offending cleric to law enforcement,  and
-- permanently post the names of all pedophile priests on the diocesan website 

WHEN
Tuesday, Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m.

WHERE
Outside St. Anthony Parish, 1300 Urban Drive in Columbus OH http://www.stanthonyparishcolumbus.org/

WHO
Two victims of clergy sexual abuse who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY
Earlier this month, an admitted child predator priest Fr. Philip J. Jacobs was arrested in Canada where he faces charges of child sexual abuse.  For 15 years, Jacobs worked in central Ohio churches..  All of the alleged victims are under the age of 14.  Jacobs was released on bail and is forbidden to have any contact with kids. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/07_08/2010_08_09_Slavin_WeCouldve.htm

Jacobs was put on leave in 1993 when he admitted to then-Columbus Bishop James Anthony Griffin that he "inappropriately touched a boy." There is no evidence that church officials contacted law enforcement.   Diocesan staff claims to have launched an internal investigation.  Jacobs, a Columbus native, then fled the country.  Despite knowledge that Jacobs had inappropriate contact with minors, he was hired as a priest in churches in Sooke and Saanich, British Columbia starting in 1996 when a church assessment supposedly determined Jacobs was no longer a threat.  Jacobs was again placed on leave in 2002, when more allegations surfaced in Canada.  He may have then taught in Prague.  http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/aug/06/former-columbus-priest-charged-canada-sex-crimes-ar-181903/

SNAP believes that had Columbus church staff called police in 1993, more kids would not have been abused.  "By not calling the police, Bishop Griffin and Victoria BC Bishop Richard Gagnon let Jacobs escape justice and likely molest again," said David Clohessy, SNAP's director.  "The bishops knew that Jacobs' past would never show up on a background check because the bishops intentionally kept his crimes secret.  Their actions show how church reforms and child protection measures ring hollow.  No one is safer until the bishops come clean, open up files and report what they know to the cops."

"The only agency that should assess whether an admitted child molester should return to work around children is law enforcement," said Judy Jones, SNAP's Midwest Associate Director.  "Bishops are quick to apologize for Jacobs, but talk is cheap. Until church officials turn over everything they know about him to law enforcement, in Canada and the U.S. their words will ring hollow."

Jacobs faces four criminal counts, including two counts of sexual assault, and one count each of sexual interference and sexual exploitation. Jacobs was arrested returning to British Columbia from San Francisco.

SNAP urges anyone with information or suspicions about Jacobs to call the Saanich police child abuse team at 250-475-4321 and the Columbus police at 614-645-4545.

Jacobs work history is here: http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Jacobs_Philip_J.htm

http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Jacobs_Philip_J.htm

Recent coverage of Jacobs: http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/100309054.html
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/07_08/2010_08_08_NBC4i_FormerColumbus.htm
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/07_08/2010_08_09_Slavin_WeCouldve.htm
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Police+receive+stream+tips+about+priest+case/3380189/story.html

As a public safety measure, SNAP also wants Columbus bishop to permanently post on his diocesan websites the names, status and whereabouts of all child molesting clerics (proven, admitted and credibly accused). Roughly 24 bishops in the US have done or are doing this.

According to a Boston-based independent research group called BishopAccountabilty.org, there are 12 publicly accused Columbus diocesan child molesting clerics. SNAP feels that the actual number of alleged Columbus area predator priests is likely significantly higher) because BishopAccountability.org lists only those clerics against whom allegations have been lodge in the public domain in civil lawsuits, criminal prosecution or news accounts).

In 2002, Baltimore became the first US diocese to disclose names. A good current example is the Philadelphia archdiocese: http://archphila.org/protection/Updates/update_main.htm. Here is a list of all the dioceses that have disclosed predators names: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm

CONTACT
Judy Jones (636) 433-2511 cell (314) 974-5003, SNAPjudy@gmail.com
Carol Zamonski (614) 447-2084, SNAPcentralohio@yahoo.com
David Clohessy (314) 566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com