Reader: Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests praises Fr. Richard Kurtz's alleged victim

Last week, we reported about the arrest of Father Richard James Kurtz, a Jesuit priest based in Chicago, for an alleged sexual assault on a male under the age of eighteen back in 2001. The post attracted a comment from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, complete with...

By Michael Roberts

November 28, 2011

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Last week, we reported about the arrest of Father Richard James Kurtz, a Jesuit priest based in Chicago, for an alleged sexual assault on a male under the age of eighteen back in 2001. The post attracted a comment from the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, complete with a salute to the victim.

Judy Block-Jones writes:

This victim is to be commended for speaking up and taking action to expose the truth.

Hopefully others who may have knowledge or been harmed by Father Richard Kurtz will have the courage to speak up and report it to police, not church officials. Crimes against kids, however old, should be investigated by the independent professionals in law enforcement, not the biased amateurs in church offices.

Keep in mind your silence only hurts, and by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others.

Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511

[email protected]

"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests" and all clergy.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/

For more memorable takes, visit our Comment of the Day archive.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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