Media Statements

For immediate release: Friday, June 3, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790,314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

Minnesota Catholic officials are writing parishioners saying their parish is being sued because of child sex crimes by Fr. Stanley Bourassa in the 1960s.

While we don’t know the specifics of this case, here’s what we DO know: Catholic officials should be more honest about these horrific cases. They should use parish bulletins, church websites and pulpit announcements to beg every single individual with information or suspicions about abuse in Catholic entities to step forward and get help from independent sources, and report what they know or fear to the independent professionals in law enforcement, not the biased amateurs in church offices.

For immediate release: Friday, June 3, 2016

For more information:

David Clohessy (314) 566-9790, [email protected], Barbara Dorris (314) 503-0003,[email protected])

Victims beg Baptists for action on clergy sex cases

Denomination holds annual meeting soon in St. Louis

“It should make “safe place” for submitting abuse reports, SNAP says

SBC should start by logging allegations & asking victims to step forward

Group predicts: Next “Spotlight”-style exposé will be in largest Protestant denomination

In anticipation of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in St. Louis on June 14-15, leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing to two of the SBC’s top officials, seeking the creation of a central “safe place” office to which Baptist clergy sex abuse survivors can file reports about their alleged perpetrators.

For immediate release: Friday, June 3, 2016

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

We urge Sioux City Catholic officials to quickly adopt the abuse prevention moves that a brave abuse victim is advocating.

http://www.ktiv.com/story/32128326/2016/06/02/alleged-abuse-victim-speaks-out-against-former-catholic-priest-of-the-diocese-of-sioux-city#.V1EFWVPaaKQ.facebook

Tim Lennon was raped as a child by Fr. Peter B. Murphy in Iowa.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2016/03_04/2016_03_30_KTIV_SupportGroup.htm

For immediate release: Friday, June 3, 2016

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])

Winona’s bishop has callously rubbed salt into the already-deep and still-fresh wounds of abuse victims by deliberately and disingenuously minimizing the pain and vulnerability of a teenaged girl who was repeatedly abused by a priest who was counseling her.

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/crime/vicar-general-resigns-from-diocese/article_608ac1a0-39a2-590e-a26c-dd00a3173181.html#comments

For immediate release: Friday, June 3, 2016

For more information: Barbra Graber 540-214-8874, [email protected], David Clohessy 314 566 9790,[email protected]

Group wants investigation into church/college abuse case

“But it must be independent, not internal,” survivors insist

They challenge Mennonite officials to publicly pledge full cooperation

“And they should publicly oppose even discussion of an in-house probe,” group says

A support group for abuse victims is urging Mennonite Church officials to hire independent investigators to look into an abuse case at a Virginia church and university. The group also wants church leaders to pledge, in advance, their full cooperation with such an effort and their “vigorous opposition” to any proposed internal investigation.

The case involves Luke Hartman, well known church leader who was arrested on solicitation of prostitution charges while he was a vice president at Eastern Mennonite University and a member of Lindale Mennonite Church, both in Harrisonburg, VA. He is also accused of sexual abuse, stalking, verbal abuses, threats of violence and was allowed to remain in his position, the group says, long after credible accusations were made.

A support group is calling for an investigation into how a priest convicted of a child sex crime got a job at a Maine church.

The New York-based Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA) and its bishop in Boston are being sued by a young man who was molested in Maine as a 15 year old altar boy by a priest who is now behind bars. The newly filed civil lawsuit charges that church officials were negligent in supervising the cleric, who had been convicted of a child sexual crime before he was ordained.

http://bangordailynews.com/2016/05/22/news/bangor/man-sexually-abused-by-former-priest-sues-greek-orthodox-diocese/

http://bangordailynews.com/2014/09/16/news/bangor/greek-orthodox-bishop-suspends-bangor-priest-facing-child-pornography-charge/

For immediate release: Thursday, June 2, 2016

For more information: Dan Frondorf 513-706-7403, [email protected], David Clohessy 314-566-9790 cell,[email protected], Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]

In rare move, archbishop sues parishioners

Child sex victims welcome “more aggressive action”

But they blast Catholic officials for ignoring abuse “enablers”

SNAP: Prelate should sue or discipline those who hid child sex crimes

“Why is church money more important than our kids?” support group asks

Organization writes to head of Cincinnati archdiocese urging pursuit of “enablers”

For immediate release: Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests(314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])

An Illinois lawmaker is pushing a bill that would further cut the pension of ex-House speaker Denny Hastert. We support this measure. We also call on Congress to censure Hastert and Hastert to voluntarily compensate his victims using the millions he earned as a lobbyist and for decades on the payroll of Illinois and US taxpayers.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160530/news/160539947/

For immediate release: Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790,314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

We are sad that jurors found an ex-priest not guilty of child sex crimes. We believe this verdict will endanger kids. We’ve spoken to this mom, Christina Presnell, and believe her, her son and her step-son.  We’re convinced that Fr. David Stone, also known as Fr. Francis Mary Stone, who worked for the Eternal Word Television Network, is a dangerous cleric.

http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2016/05/jury_decides_on_child_abuse_ch_1.html

For immediate release, May 30, 2016

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, CA, Western Regional Director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPNetwork.org) ([email protected], 949-322-7434 cell)

Our hearts ache for Doris Concepcion, who has so bravely spoken out about the abuse her son endured.

http://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2016/05/30/mother-deceased-man-accuses-apuron-molesting-son/84888594/

Parents of sexual abuse victims carry an awful and painful burden. Ms. Concepcion only wanted the best for her son. She had no idea that she was possibly putting her child in the path of a predator. We hope that Ms. Concepcion finds the peace and healing she so deeply deserves. Her powerful words and story have made is safer for victims of abuse everywhere—no matter the predator—to come forward and find healing and justice.