CT--Predator priest case goes to Supreme Court
Predator priest case goes to Supreme Court
Cleric claims 15 year old basically consented
Victims group deplores “mean-spirited legal hardball”
SNAP also prods archbishop to post pedophiles’ name
About 30 US Catholic officials have taken this “safety step”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that
--an unusual clergy sex case has been accepted by the CT Supreme Court,
--it’s against a never-before-accused priest who lived in CT for 65 years, and
--it focuses on whether a 15 year old victim “consented” because he didn’t fight back when he was being assaulted.
The victims will also
--call on Hartford Catholic officials to post predator priests’ names on church websites, and
--beg anyone “who saw, suspected or suffered” clergy sex crimes in Connecticut to “call secular authorities, not church officials.”
WHEN
Thursday, June 9 at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave. (near corner of Sigourney) in Hartford CT
WHO
Three-four victims of clergy sex abuse and their supporters who belong to a group called SNAP, the Survivors network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long-time director
WHY
1.Connecticut’s highest court has agreed to hear an appeal by a man who says he was repeatedly molested by a Hartford priest who has never been publicly accused of abuse before. Despite a full trial, the case has attracted no public or media attention thus far.
A Hartford archdiocesan priest, Fr. Peter G. Mitchell, who passed away just last month, reportedly sexually violated young “Edward Doe” from 1980-1981 in a car, his house, and a parking lot near a school in New Haven. Fr. Mitchell passed away just last month.
In June 2015, after a trial, a New Haven County jury found that the priest molested the then-15 year old boy. But the judge inappropriately applied a criminal standard to a civil case, SNAP says. And since Connecticut’s “age of consent” was 15 at that time, and the victim didn’t physically resist, he lost his case.
“The court should recognize that sex abusers carefully groom and choose those who can’t or don’t fight back, which is usually the case,” said New Haven attorney Tom McNamara (203-782-9241, [email protected]), who represents the victim in this case. Since 1992, he’s handled dozens of abuse cases against institutions and predators.
“It’s shameful that this priest is exploiting technicalities and playing legal hardball against a deeply wounded man who was manipulated and victimized as a vulnerable youngster,” said David Clohessy of SNAP. “Well-educated, well-spoken and shrewd predators like Fr. Mitchell skillfully select victims who are usually already in pain or simply cannot resist their often cunning and subtle maneuvers. Any reasonable justice system must recognize this sad and painful imbalance of power and make allowances for suffering victims to expose dangerous child molesters in court despite not having physically fought back during the horrific crimes.”
The case, which SNAP says has statewide impact was filed in the Superior Court of New Haven in 2012. Judge John J. Nazzaro presided over the trial. The victim filed a motion for a new trial in June 2015 and last month, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.
Fr. Mitchell is represented by attorney Hubert Santos of Hartford. Copies of the victim’s lawsuit will be available at the news conference.
Fr. Mitchell was born in White Plains, New York, went to seminaries in Bloomfield and Baltimore and was ordained in 1951. He worked at the following churches: St. Patrick Church in Mystic, St. Mary Church in Derby, St. John the Evangelist in West Hartford (1957-1961), St. Aedan Church in New Haven (1961-1968), Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Woodbridge (1968-1979), St. Clare Parish in East Haven, St. Mary Church in Branford and St. Mary Church in Derby (1997 until his retirement in 2001). Fr. Mitchell was also chaplain at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford where he passed away on May 20.
http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2016/05/24/obituaries/958912.txt
The Hartford archdiocese is not named as a defendant in the case because the perpetrator and victim met outside of a religious setting or context.
2.For “the protection of kids, the healing of victims and the health of the church,” SNAP is also urging Hartford Archbishop Leonard Blair to post on church websites 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 Hartford area. About 30 US bishops (including Bridgeport’s) have done this.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm
In January, Seattle’s archbishop posted names of 77 predator priests.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-archdiocese-posts-list-of-clergy-accused-of-sexual-assault/
Last month, bishops in Altoona PA and Baltimore MD posted predators’ names.
http://www.ajdiocese.org/node/1095
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-archdiocese-list-priests-20160509-story.html
According to an independent archive of the Catholic abuse crisis called BishopAccountability.org, there are 37 publicly accused predator priests in Hartford (not counting Fr. Mitchell), 36 in Bridgeport and 19 in Norwich. SNAP suspects the real numbers are considerably higher.
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Gail Howard 203 644 0387, [email protected], Jayne 860 561 0151, [email protected],[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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