Malta--Bishops pledge to post predators’ names

For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])

We are grateful, and kids are safer, any time a predator’s name is posted on line or appears in print. So we’re glad that Malta Catholic officials will reportedly put child molesting clerics’ names on church websites.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150903/local/names-of-defrocked-priests-to-start-being-published-on-church-websites.583044

At the same time, however, we’re highly skeptical that the lists will be complete or that accurate and adequate information will be provided. Historically, Catholic officials have often posted only names of predator priests who have already been “outed” and whose identities are already known because of civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution or others means.

While this pledge may sound promising, we urge victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, Catholics and citizens to keep pushing for full disclosure and real reform. And we urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups to seek help from independent sources, like police, prosecutors, therapists, loved ones and support groups like ours, not from Catholic officials.

NOTE – About 30 US bishops have posted names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics on their websites, almost always after considerable public pressure.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has 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], [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])

Names of defrocked priests to start being published on Church websites

The names of defrocked priests are to start being published on the Malta and Gozo church websites with immediate effect, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo bishop Mario Grech said today.

In a statement this afternoon the bishops said . . .

Read full article here