Diocese responds to N. Idaho abuse case
Those who follow the news out of North Idaho and Eastern Washington have likely heard of the arrest and criminal charges against Mr. Kevin G. Sloniker for lewd conduct with children under the age of 16 and one count of rape. Such reports highlight the blight of child sex abuse present in our country. Such acts against children, if proven to be true, are heinous in nature and Mr. Sloniker should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Diocese of Boise and the Catholic Church as a whole offers its prayers and support for such victims.
Some news reports have linked this man, as well as the work he did as a youth camp counselor, to the Catholic Church. The Diocese of Boise wishes to be clear — the church with whom Mr. Sloniker worked, Immaculate Conception Church, in Post Falls, is not a Roman Catholic Church. It is not affiliated in any way with the Diocese of Boise, Bishop Peter Christensen, nor the universal Roman Catholic Church. It is a part of a sect known as the Priestly Society of St. Pius X which began its break from the Catholic Church as early as 1970, and completed in 1988 by an act of Pope John Paul II. As Pope Benedict XVI stated on March 10, 2008, “the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers…do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.”
In our attempt to ensure a safe environment for all children in our parishes and schools across the state, we conduct thorough criminal background checks for all clergy, employees and volunteers. More than 16,000 individuals have been screened since 2004 in the Diocese of Boise. These same individuals are also educated concerning the terrible crime of child sex abuse, its prevention and things to look for in identifying possible abuse, as well as the absolute duty to report abuse to law enforcement officials. We also have an independent review board that advises the diocese on these matters.
The protection of our children is a sacred responsibility that the Diocese of Boise takes very seriously. We certainly offer our sincere prayers for those injured by the acts of this individual, as well as their families.