An Iowa Catholic archbishop has announced his resignation “for health reasons” just two weeks prior to his scheduled deposition in a clergy sex abuse and cover up case.

For immediate release Wednesday, April 10

Archbishop resigns before deposition

He’s supposed to be questioned in 2 weeks

And he’s returning soon to Kansas City diocese

That’s where he allegedly hid child sex crimes

The perpetrator, a Catholic cleric, has admitted guilt

An Iowa Catholic archbishop has announced his resignation “for health reasons” just two weeks prior to his scheduled deposition in a clergy sex abuse and cover up case.

He’s Jerome Hanus who has headed the Archdiocese of Dubuque, IA and will soon live again in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

From 1977 to 1987, Jerome Hanus was abbot at Conception Abbey in Conception, MO (Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph). In a videotaped interview and a signed confession from 2011, Bede Parry admitted that Abbot Jerome Hanus knew about Parry’s previous sexual misconduct yet still placed Parry in a position of authority with the Conception Abbey Boy Choir where Parry reoffended with at least five choir participants.

With this resignation, Hanus has become to first high-ranking church official to step down during Pope Francis’ new regime.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2011/05_06/2011_06_24_Thomas_FormerLeader.htm

“It’s extremely rare for a standing Archbishop to be desposed, and even moreso when that official has been named as an enabler by a predator priest himself,” said said David Clohessy, SNAP Director. “The consequences from this deposition could be huge.”

SNAP believes that it is important the deposition still be held and that Hanus is made to ask tough questions about his time in Missouri and Iowa

“We hope the deposition will still be held,” said David Clohessy, SNAP Director. “It’s important that the public find out what Hanus knew about not only Parry, but other child-molesting clerics.”

Clohessy continued to say that “if he’s covered up sex crimes once, he’s surely done it again.”

Two attorneys – Rebecca Randles of Kansas City and Jeff Anderson of St. Paul MN – have handled cases against Parry.

Here’s video of Parry, the accused predator, regarding Hanus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnQJfFbtifA

Here’s a statement Parry made in May 2011:

http://www.deceptioninconception.com/statement-of-rev-bede-parry/

Here’s a 2011 story linking Hanus to the Parry lawsuit:

http://www.heartlandconnection.com/directory/legal/story.aspx?id=634081

Here’s a new article about Hanus’ resignation:

http://wcfcourier.com/jerome-hanus-statement/pdf_8405194a-a043-11e2-9965-0019bb2963f4.html

Parry lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hanus plans to move back to Conception Abbey in northwestern Missouri.

For more info: David Clohessy (314.566.9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Pat Marker (360-421-5849, patrickmarker@gmail.com)