Bishop-elect for Diocese of Duluth, MN Resigns Following Accusations of Abuse
A priest who was tapped this summer to lead a diocese in Minnesota has withdrawn from the position after being accused of abusing a child in the 1980s. This sad situation is a reminder of just how high alleged abusers can climb in the church and speaks to a critical need for a shift in how we respond to allegations of child sexual abuse.
Father Michel J. Mulloy, a priest from the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, had been chosen by Pope Francis to lead the Diocese of Duluth, MN in June. Yet in August, church officials in Rapid City received an allegation that Fr. Mulloy had sexually abused a child in 1980s, a claim that the diocesan review board believed merited a full investigation. We agree with their assessment and hope that outside, secular law enforcement professionals launch an investigation of their own.
It is disturbing that a diocese like Duluth which experienced its own share of clergy abuse cover-ups by Bishop Paul Sirba would have been led by a prelate who himself has been accused of abuse. We hope that parishioners in Duluth are outraged by this news and will demand that their church officials improve their screening and elevation processes to ensure that no other diocese is led by an alleged child abuser.
More than 1/3 of all American prelates have been accused of mishandling cases of child sexual abuse and at least 26 have been named as abusers themselves. Stories like this make that stat a little clearer and speaks to the clear need for parents to carefully weigh how their children will participate in their local church, for parishioners to watch their new prelate closely, and for the public to demand change in the church so that this ongoing crisis can eventually end.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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