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SNAP Statement regarding: W.Va. monsignor must testify in Pa. abuse trial

by Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511, SNAPJudy@gmail.com


We're grateful that Philadelphia jurors will hear sworn testimony from this West Virginia priest, Fr. Kevin Qjuirk.

(We believe Quirk's also involved in the case of a controversial accused Steubenville priest, Fr. Gary Zalenski, who has been accused of child sex crimes.)

But we're still disappointed that it's taking a judge's order to get Catholic officials to do their simple, civic duty - honor a subpoena. The church hierarchy claims it "cooperates" with law enforcement. But as this case shows, often they only "cooperate" when a judge insists that they do so.

Fr. Quirk should have gone voluntarily. When he delayed, Bishop Bransfield should have ordered him to go.

Again, we see the same irresponsible pattern by Catholic officials - say one thing, do another. Top church staff continue to largely act as though they're above the law.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world?s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 12,000 members. Despite the word ?priest? in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers and increasingly, victims who were assaulted in a wide range of institutional settings like summer camps, athletic programs, Boy Scouts, etc. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, bblaine@snapnetwork.org), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)



http://www.wtrf.com/story/17600557/wva-monsignor-must-testify-in-pa-abuse-trial


W.Va. monsignor must testify in Pa. abuse trial
Posted: Apr 20, 2012 9:38 AM CDT

WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) - A West Virginia judge says Monsignor Kevin Quirk must testify as a material witness in a clergy sexual abuse trial under way in Philadelphia.

Quirk's attorney, William Kolibash, said Friday that Hancock County Circuit Judge Ronald Wilson has ruled that Quirk is a material witness in the case against the Rev. James Brennan.

Kolibash says his client must appear to testify between April 29 and May 1.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office couldn't subpoena Quirk because he lives outside Pennsylvania. It needed a West Virginia judge to issue the subpoena.

Kolibash says the ruling came late Thursday. Quirk had fought the petition to appear.

Quirk was 1 of 3 canonical judges at a church trial for Brennan. Brennan's now in criminal court for an alleged 1996 assault that he denies.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.