IL - 14 Victims Settle Chicago Lawsuits
For immediate release:
Tuesday, Dec 7
For more information
Barbara Blaine of SNAP 312 399 4747 cell, 312 644 6404
Attorney Jeff Anderson (St. Paul) 651 227 9990, 612 817 8665 cell
Attorney Marc Pearlman (Chicago) 312 261 4554, 773 368 0142 cell
Abusive Ex-Priest Also Worked At Aquarium
Molester Worked in Four States
A settlement has been reached involving an ex-Chicago priest and 14 men who were molested as youngsters.
Many were victimized at St. Rita's parish in southwest Chicago during the 1970s and 1980s.
The molester is former priest John Daniel Murphy.
"No settlement can ever bring back a shattered childhoods, broken trust and betrayed faith," said Barbara Blaine of SNAP. "We praise these men for having the courage to speak up, expose a dangerous man, warn parents and achieve at least a small degree of justice. We wish them well with the healing journeys ahead."
These settlements are part of on-going negotiations involving multiple abusers and victims coordinated by plaintiff's attorney Jeff Anderson of St. Paul. Anderson has specialized in this type of litigation for two decades.
Murphy, who belonged to the Augustinian religious order, also worked in Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Michigan. He was ordained in 1968 and quit the priesthood in 1993 (he was working in Racine then), around the time church officials acknowledge receiving sexual abuse complaints about him. Murphy also worked at the Shedd Aquarium.
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