LA- Victims urge bishop to suspend predator priest
For immediate release: Monday, July 21, 2014
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Recently uncovered files show that an accused predator priest is still on the job in Louisiana and former Lafayette Bishop Harry Flynn covered it up. We urge the current bishop to take immediate action and suspend this cleric immediately.
When then-bishop Flynn was asked about Fr. Gilbert Dutel, Flynn said “he’s cured.” Despite multiple allegations of sexual abuse of young men and a child, Fr. Dutel was kept in ministry. Church records show no information was ever given to the police or made public regarding the allegations.
Everyone knows that child molesters are rarely “cured.” They often continue abusing until they are publicly exposed and kept away from children.
Fr. Dutel is currently the pastor of St. Edmond church and has worked at elementary and high schools. http://www.st-
We are deeply concerned about this information. Recently released depositions and documents show a long history of cover-ups by Flynn, both in Lafayette and the Twin Cities. We are worried about how many other current or former priests have credible allegations of abuse, but were allowed to keep working near children.
We urge Bishop Michael Jarrell to immediately oust Fr. Dutel and use his vast resources to beg anyone who saw, suspects or suffered crimes by Dutel to come forward, call police and start healing.
(Here's another case Jarrell should be held accountable for)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [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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