KY -- SNAP: “Diocese should post names of all predators on its website”
Victims to leaflet church-goers
They warn public about predator priests
Group urges new Lexington bishop to act
One cleric has been accused of abusing four kids
Another one allegedly assaulted at least five boys
SNAP: “Diocese should post names of all predators on its website”
WHAT
As parishioners leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims will hand them fliers about two Lexington area predator priests. The leaflets urge Lexington’s new Catholic bishop to
--aggressively warn his flock about two predator priests (one still in ministry), and
--post the names of all predator priests on church websites and in church bulletins.
The group will prod anyone who “saw, suspected or suffered” clergy sex crimes or cover ups in Lexington to “step forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and start healing.”
WHEN
Sunday, March 15 at noon
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of Christ the King, 299 Colony Blvd. in Lexington (859 268 2861)
WHO
Three-four members of a self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time executive director
(NOTE: SNAP is doing a separate event on Sunday in Louisville.)
WHY
SNAP wants incoming Bishop John Stowe (just promoted this week) to warn his flock about two local predator priests and permanently post all child molesting clerics’ names on his diocesan website.
1---Fr. Carroll Howlin faces at least four child sex abuse allegations, but now lives – and likely still ministers – among poverty-stricken families in McCreary County with no supervision. It’s “one of most reckless, disturbing and recent examples of how little church officials are doing to safeguard kids from known predators,” SNAP says.
Recently-released church records show that prosecutors found the child sex allegations “credible” and “there was sufficient evidence to file criminal charges” but the statute of limitations prevented it.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/joliet/Howlin/Howlin_Rev_Carroll.pdf - page 222
Based on some of these records, the Chicago Tribune reported that “Church officials removed Howlin from public ministry, but otherwise left him alone in Kentucky (despite charges that) Howlin had used money to gain sexual favors from two impoverished teenage boys and had been engaging in ‘informal ministry on the side’ in Kentucky” (with a charity called "Hills and Hollers Ministries," 606 376 7577).
In 2010, the Vatican banned him from unsupervised contact with children, but “he serves as his own minder here in rural Kentucky. The choice of whether to follow the Vatican's restrictions involving ministry or being alone with children remains entirely up to him,” the Tribune found.
“Howlin is in fact still a Joliet Diocese priest who is supposed to answer to its bishop, according to both the Vatican and other experts. The diocese continues Howlin's pension, and (his bishop) has the authority to dictate where Howlin lives. (But) records show church officials have done little to keep tabs on him,” the Tribune reported.
The Joliet diocese website says he has “a continuing canonical process,” proof that he’s still a priest.
http://dioceseofjoliet.org/siteimages/chancerytribunal/OYCP/List2REV_9-17-14.pdf
From 1977-2002, Fr. Howlin was pastor of Good Shepherd Chapel (513 489 8815, 513 489 0200, 606 376 8728) in Whitley City, about two hours south of Lexington (but still in the Lexington diocese). He is listed as a “credibly accused” predator priest on the Joliet Diocese website:
2---In 2009, Fr. Joseph N. Muench was accused of having sexually abused five children in the 1980s. He pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment and attempted sexual abuse involving two of them. In May 2010, he was sentenced to a year in jail, but was released just four months later.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/07_08/2009_07_12_Warren_LexingtonPriest.htm
Fr. Muench is the most prolific living Lexington area predator priest, SNAP says. He most recently worked at Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary parish in Lexington (2006-2009). He also worked at churches in Covington, Frankfort, Prestonsburg, Martin, Harrodsburg, Perryville and Frankfort.
SNAP does not know where Fr. Muench is now. But the group says Catholic officials should defrock him, publicize his whereabouts and “aggressively” seek out others who might be able to bring more criminal charges against him.
It’s irresponsible, SNAP maintains, for Catholic officials to “recruit, educate, ordain, hire, train, transfer and shield priests, but suddenly act powerless about them once their crimes become public.”
3---About 30 bishops, usually under pressure, have posted names of proven, admitted and credibly accused predator priests. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm
For “the safety of children and the healing of victims,” SNAP wants Bishop Stowe to “take this simple, inexpensive step toward openness and prevention.”
According to BishopAccountability.org, an independent, Boston-based archive group, there are seven publicly accused Lexington diocese predator priests: Fr. William J. Fedders, Fr. Stephen Gallenstein, Fr. John B. Modica, Edward Francis Murray, Fr. Leonard B. Nienaber, Fr. William G. Poole, and Fr. Carl C. Schaffer. Lexington Bishop Kendrick Williams also resigned after being accused of molesting three boys in Louisville. (All three reached settlements.)
SNAP suspects there are at least a dozen clerics more whose crimes and identities remain hidden.
Photos of Fr. Howlin and Fr. Muench are available at BishopAccountability.org
The attorney whose case brought records about Fr. Howlin into the public eye is Terry Johnson of Chicago (312 922 4022, terry.johnson@terryjohnsonlaw.com). The attorney who represented victims of Fr. Muench is B. Keith Saksefski of Louisville (502 267 8222).
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Cal Pfeiffer 502 396 7178, Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, [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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