NY--Victims blast bishop on abuse
Victims blast bishop on abuse
A twice-accused predator is still in a parish
Cleric faces two unusual pending child sex lawsuits
They seek names of all pedophiles in Long Island diocese
Group says top Catholic official “is putting kids at risk”
SNAP: “Murphy is also breaking US church abuse policy”
Victims also want names of predators posted on websites
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
--insist that Long Island’s Catholic bishop suspend a twice-accused predator priest who faces two pending civil child sex abuse lawsuits and
--post the names of predator priests on his diocesan website (as 30 other US bishops have done),
They will also urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes or cover ups to
--seek help from independent sources (not from church officials), and
--contact police and prosecutors “so that kids can be protected and predators can be pursued.”
And they will explain how the lawsuits are “ground-breaking” because they’re seeking to expose names of child molesting clerics as a “public nuisance.”
WHEN
Friday, May 6 at 1:30 pm
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Rockville Centre Catholic diocese headquarters, 50 N. Park in Rockville Centre, NY
WHO
Two – four members of a support group called SNAP the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time director.
WHY
In what SNAP says is an unprecedented move, Rockville Centre Bishop William Murphy is letting a priest remain in the job even though he faces two pending child sex abuse lawsuits. The group is demanding that Murphy suspend the cleric, Fr. Gregory Yacyshyn from his post as pastor of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Mastic Beach (631-281-5743).
Last week, he was sued for allegedly molesting a 5 to 7 year-old boy in 2001-2003 at St. Francis of Assisi.
In January 2015, he was sued for allegedly abusing an 8-yr-old girl in 2003 when he was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Greenlawn NY.
Both victims reported to law enforcement and both civil cases are pending.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/ny_new_lawsuit_says_accused_predator_priest_is_in_long_island_parish_now
“Since 2002, every US bishop has pledged to suspend credibly accused predator priests,” said Barbara Dorris, SNAP’s outreach director. “We don’t know of another case in America like this one – where Catholic officials continue keeping kids at risk by ignoring two relatively recent and clearly credible charges of child sex crimes.”
“Murphy is acting incredibly recklessly,” said David Clohessy, SNAP’s director. “How does he justify not even temporarily ousting Fr. Greg while an investigation is done? That’s what he and his brother bishops have promised for years now, but refusing to do time and time again.”
If Murphy doesn’t act, SNAP says other church officials, including NYC Cardinal Timothy Dolan should “discipline and denounce him for his recklessness.”
The group is also urging Murphy to permanently post on his diocesan website the names, photos, whereabouts and work histories of all “proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics who live/lived or work/worked in the Rockville Centre diocese.
“This is the least that bishops can and should do to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded and protect the truth,” Clohessy said.
The group also called on New York lawmakers to reform the state’s “archaic, predator-friendly statute of limitations that prevents more victims from protecting kids and exposing and deterring those who commit or conceal sex crimes against youngsters.”
A photo of Fr. Yacyshyn, who was ordained in Rockville Centre in 1998, is available at BishopAccountability.org
The suits are filed in Nassau County Supreme Court.
Both victims are represented by attorneys Jeff Anderson (612 817 8665) and Mike Reck (651 227 9990).
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Gail Howard 203 644 0387, [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
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