After New Revelations from CBS, Cardinal DiNardo Must Resign
Another media investigation has added more evidence that the head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is unfit for his role. The new report alleges that the Cardinal mishandled claims of sexual abuse against priests under his purview in two additional cases. We believe that he should resign his post immediately.
Despite his tough talk on cases of clergy sex abuse, it is becoming more and more apparent that Cardinal Daniel DiNardo is saying one thing and doing another. We have known for months about his mishandling of the Fr. Manuel LaRosa-Lopez case in Texas, and two weeks ago the AP uncovered evidence that Cardinal DiNardo – while the bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, IA – had kept secret the crimes of a serially abusive priest. Now CBS has shed light on two more cases where Cardinal DiNardo kept priests in ministry despite multiple allegations of abuse against them.
In our opinion, Cardinal DiNardo is clearly unfit the lead the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, especially given this watershed moment in the clergy sex abuse crisis. If the Cardinal cannot be counted on to properly handle claims that occur in dioceses under his purview, how can he be trusted to lead the entirety of the American catholic church through this crisis?
As the Catholic Church is again publicly grappling with the reality and severity of the clergy abuse crisis, the Church will need a real leader if their attempts at reform are to be taken seriously. This new report, taken together with the previous information about Cardinal DiNardo’s failure to handle cases properly, should be enough for any bishop who is serious about getting to the bottom of this crisis to demand his immediate resignation.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(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