Another Marianist predator exposed

• Another Marianist predators exposed
• He abused a girl here but has left the country
• Despite “credible” allegations, he’s still on job today
• Men report 4 more child molesting Chaminade clerics
• SNAP will hold public meeting about growing scandal
• Therapist warns victims: “Don’t trust Marianist officials” 

WHAT:

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that a credibly accused Marianist cleric who molested a teenaged girl here now works for the Catholic church in Rome.

They will also

--announce an upcoming open public meeting about the roiling Chaminade abuse scandal,

--beg victims of predators at Chaminade, Vianney and St. Mary’s high schools to NOT contact church or school officials, but instead to contact law enforcement

Victims will urge the Marianist staff here to bring the predator in Rome back to the US, put him in a remote and secure treatment facility, and apologize and explain why the sent him overseas among unsuspecting families and colleagues.

A therapist who treated a victim of a Marianist predator will urge other victims to be cautious when dealing with church officials.

WHEN:

TODAY, Monday February 13 at 1:15 p.m.

WHERE:

Outside the Marianist headquarters, 4425 W. Pine (near corner of Newstead) in the city’s CWE

WHO:

A therapist who has treated a boy molested by a local Marianist, and 2-4 members of an international support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY:

While Vatican officials wrapped up an unprecedented four-day meeting last week about the church’s ongoing abuse cover-up crisis, a credibly accused former St. Louis cleric works right under the Pope’s nose.

Fr. Charles H. Miller is a Marianist from St. Louis who taught at St. Louis University in the 1970s. In 2005, a woman reported to Marianist officials that Miller began grooming her in 1976 when she was 14 years old and began molesting her three years later when she turned 17. After a two-year-long investigation, Marianists determined that the woman’s accusations were “credible.” During their investigation, church officials uncovered evidence that Miller had perpetrated this same behavior with at least two other teenagers.

However, rather than permanently defrocking Miller, church officials instead allegedly restricted some parts of his ministry and then, in 2007, sent him to the Marianist headquarters in Rome, where he still works today.

SNAP wants Marianist officials to explain why they sent Miller overseas where he could pose a threat to other teenagers who are unaware of his history of abuse. They also want Catholic officials to bring Miller back and put him in a remote and secure treatment facility, so that teens and young adults will be safer.

Even if Miller’s victims were legally adults when the abuse happened, SNAP says it’s always a hurtful abuse of power when a highly educated and charismatic cleric violates vows and has any sexual contact with a child, teen, or young Catholic adult.

SNAP is also hosting two events this week. On Wednesday, the group will hold an open, public meeting about the growing Chaminade scandal on Wed. Feb. 15^th at the Creve Coeur Community Center on New Ballas Rd. On Thursday, SNAP will hold a confidential support group meeting – for victims and their loved ones – at the St. Louis County public library in Clayton. Both begin at 6:30 p.m.

Therapist Peg Schwartz saw a young man who was sexually victimized by a local Marianist in St. Louis and saw how he and his family were treated by the Catholic hierarchy. She will speak about the need for victims to be careful who they choose to speak with when they step forward with abuse reports.

SNAP wants officials at Chaminade, the Marianists, and the archdiocese to “come clean” about abuse in Marianist schools, disclose ALL names of proven, admitted and credibly accused Marianists (whether living or deceased, lay or ordained, current or former). The group is also prodding everyone who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes or cover ups by Marianists to call police, expose wrongdoing, protect others and start healing.

A photo of Miller, and other information about him, is available at http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Miller_Charles_H_SM.htm

CONTACT
Barb Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director (314) 503 0003, [email protected], David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (314) 566 9790, [email protected]