AZ--Credibly accused predator priest in AZ is "outed"
For immediate release: Thursday, Oct. 23
Statement by Barbara Dorris of SNAP (314 503 0003)
A Catholic priest who lives in Mesa has been “outed” today for the first time as a credibly accused child molester. We call on Arizona Catholic officials to warn parents, parishioners and the public about him.
http://www.archspm.org/archspm_news/statement-regarding-disclosure-additional-names/
In a joint announcement by a law firm and the St. Paul archdiocese, Fr. Robert P. Clark is one of four priests whose names are being disclosed today for the first time as having “substantiated claims against them of sexually abusing a minor.” The revelations come as part of a settlement of a clergy sex abuse and cover up lawsuit announced last week (John Doe 1 vs. Fr. Thomas Adamson and the St. Paul archdiocese).
We again applaud Doe for insisting that more names of predator priests are disclosed as a result of his courageous litigation.
Let there be no mistake about this new information: it’s being released because victims have filed lawsuits and insist on real safety measures, not just pay offs. It’s not a sign of reform by Catholic officials. It’s a sign that when victims are brave enough to step forward and smart enough to file lawsuits, more truth can be exposed and more kids can be protected.
We hope that anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Fr. Clark– or any cleric – will find the courage to speak up, get help, expose wrongdoers, protect others and start healing. And we hope that Arizona’s bishops will overcome the temptation to do nothing, will choose to act responsibly, and use their church websites, parish bulletins, pulpit announcements and news releases to seek out anyone else who may have been hurt by Fr. Clark.
http://safe-environment.archspm.org/accountability/clergy-disclosures/robert-clark/
Here’s what the Jeff Anderson law firm in St. Paul – along with the St. Paul archdiocese – released today about Fr. Clark:
Date of birth: 6/28/1958
Date of ordination: 2/18/1984
Clark is a priest of another diocese who is alleged to have committed acts of sexual abuse of a minor outside of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This archdiocese is not aware of any substantiated claim of sexual abuse of a minor asserted against Clark relating to any conduct that occurred in this archdiocese. Clark’s name has nevertheless been added to the archdiocese’s disclosure list in the interest of full transparency, to champion the Child Protection Protocols and Procedures first announced to the public on October 13, 2014 and to aid in healing for survivors who may reside in the archdiocese.
Clark’s assignment history:
Associate Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Marshall, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1984-1984
Associate Pastor, Holy Trinity, Winsted, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1984-1989
Associate Pastor, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1989-1990
Pastor, St. Anthony, Watkins, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1990-1993
Parochial Administrator, Our Lady, Manannah, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1992-1996
Pastor, St. Patrick, Kandiyohi, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1996-1997
Pastor, St. Thomas More, Lake Lillian, (Diocese of New Ulm) 1996-1997
Administrative leave, 1997
Religion Teacher, Saint Agnes High School, St. Paul, 1998-2002
Administrative leave, 2002
Diocese or religious order: Diocese of New Ulm
Date permanently removed from ministry: Removed from active ministry on March 26, 2002
Current location: Mesa, AZ
Current status: Resigned
Date the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis posted this individual’s name on a list of those with claims of substantiated abuse against them: October 23, 2014
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director