Between 1979 and 1982, Parry studied at St. John’s University and lived among monks at the controversy-ridden St. John’s Abbey, another Benedictine facility, near St. Cloud Minnesota where at least 18 proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics lived and worked. (A number of them still live at the facility). He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1983 and joined the Episcopalian priesthood in 2004.
SNAP Media Advisory
Accused molester worked recently at local church
New child sex abuse & cover up lawsuit is filed
He was first a Catholic priest, then an Episcopal one
He allegedly molested boy at abbey in rural Missouri
Suit says his then-church supervisors knew but kept silent
WHAT:
Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will announce a new child sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit involving an ex-Catholic priest who is now an Episcopal cleric and worked recently at a Las Vegas church. They will also urge local officials of both denominations to
– “come clean” about why they hired him despite clear “red flags” in his past, and
– aggressively seek out others he hurt and prod them to call police and prosecutors.
The victims will also urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy abuse – by this predator or others – to call law enforcement, not church staff.
WHERE: Outside of the All Saints Episcopal Cathedral/Church, 4201 West Washington Avenue (between Decatur & Valley View, east of Hogan) in Las Vegas NV
WHEN: Thursday, June 23 at 11:00 am
WHO: 1-2 child sex abuse victims who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Chicago woman who is the organization’s founder
WHY: Today a new clergy sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit is being filed, charging that a Benedictine priest, Fr. Bede J. Parry, sexually abused a boy at a summer choir camp at Conception Abbey near St. Joseph MO.
For eleven years (2000-2011) and until a few months ago, Parry (who later became an Episcopalian cleric) worked at All Saints Episcopal Church in Las Vegas as Music Director and Assisting Priest. In the 1990s, he also worked at two other Las Vegas churches: Holy Family Catholic church and Reformation Lutheran Church, plus two more in Albuquerque, NM.
According to the suit, the crimes happened in 1987. The suit maintains that in 2000, “psychological testing revealed that Parry was a sexual abuser who had the proclivity to reoffend with minors.” The test results “were provided to the Abbey, the Las Vegas Catholic Diocese and Nevada’s Episcopal bishop,” according to the suit. Still, he ended up at a local church.
Conception Abbey, the defendant in the suit, trains seminarians for a number of US Catholic dioceses.
Between 1979 and 1982, Parry studied at St. John’s University and lived among monks at the controversy-ridden St. John’s Abbey, another Benedictine facility, near St. Cloud Minnesota where at least 18 proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics lived and worked. (A number of them still live at the facility). He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1983 and joined the Episcopalian priesthood in 2004.
Parry’s last known address is 5733 Capitol, Las Vegas (though he may have since moved). The victim, filing as “John Doe,” now lives in Missouri. He is represented by attorneys Pat Noaker (612 817 8665 cell, 651 227 9990 office) and Jeff Anderson of St. Paul MN (612 817 8665 cell, 651 227 9990 office).
The detailed, five page suit, which seeks unspecified damages, says that since church officials “fraudulently concealed” Parry’s crimes, the normally applicable statute of limitations does not apply in this case. It is filed in Nodaway County Circuit Court. Copies of the formal complaint will be available at the event (and/or at AndersonAdvocates.com). The victim will NOT be present.
More info about abuse and cover up at Benedictine facilities can be found at ConceptionAbbeyAbuse.com and BehindThePineCurtain.com
CONTACT: Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP President (312) 399 4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com, David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (314) 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com, Barb Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director (314) 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com.
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Barbara Blaine
President
312 399 4747
snapblaine@gmail.com
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAPnetwork.org
