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  SNAP Petitions Nickless to " Come Clean"

By Matt Breen
KTIV [Sioux City IA]
January 21, 2006

http://www.ktiv.com/News/NewsDetail64.cfm?Id=26,10057

Only hours into his reign as bishop of the Sioux City diocese, Walker Nickless is already attracting attention from "SNAP". That's the Iowa group representing victims of sexual abuse at the hands of catholic priests.

They're urging Nickless to permanently post the names of all proven, admitted and credibly accused abusive clergy. They also want Nickless aggressively reach out to victims and witnesses urging them to contact criminal authorities. He has dealt with the issue in his role with the Denver diocese. "I've dealt with the sexual abuse problem," Nickless says. "It's a terrible thing in the church and in the world. But, the catholic church is handling it well. And, we're doing the best that we can and will continue to do that in Sioux City."

In the past, "SNAP" has targeted other bishops of the Sioux City diocese. Lawrence Soens retired in 1998 in Sioux City, but is accused of molestation in nine different lawsuits filed from his time in the Davenport diocese. A spokesperson for the Sioux City diocese says there were never any complaints against Soens during his time in Sioux City.

 
 

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