Media Statements
We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
FL--Predator MN priest now in Florida; Victims respond
For immediate release: Sunday, May 8, 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])
A serial predator priest who was found guilty of abuse by a Minnesota jury has quietly moved to Florida where he at least once visited a St. Petersburg area parish.
This is an outrage. It shows that despite decades of pledges and promises, Catholic bishops continue to do be secretive and reckless about their thousands of child molesting clerics.
CT--Ex-CT predator priest now teaching school
For immediate release: Friday, May 6, 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])
A priest who molested kids in Hartford is now teaching school in Africa, a newspaper reports. Hartford Archbishop Leonard Blair should launch an aggressive outreach effort so the priest might be prosecuted and imprisoned.
http://www.abqjournal.com/769392/priest-on-the-lam-found-in-morocco.html
MO--Pediatrician examines kids after child porn conviction
For immediate release: May 6, 2016
Statement by: David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell,[email protected] ),
It's tragic that troubled and abusive doctors are still able to be around vulnerable trusting patience who know nothing about what the doctors are doing. We urge patients to carefully research their Physicians and urge State officials to do more to warn the unsuspecting public about these problematic positions.
SC—Newspring Church must do outreach on child sex abuse case
For immediate release: Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Statement by Amy Smith, <[email protected]>, Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests leader,
Florence church youth volunteer kissed and fondled teen boy, police say
By Eric Walters, April 29, 2016, WBTW News 13
FLORENCE, SC – A youth group volunteer at a Florence church has been arrested for sexually assaulting a minor.
According to Florence Police Major Carlos Raines, a 15-year-old boy claimed Leo LaSalle Comissiong, 20, of Florence kissed and fondled him through his clothes.
The incident happened in February at the NewSpring Church on North Cashua Drive, Raines said.
Comissiong is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor, 3rd degree.
http://wbtw.com/2016/04/29/florence-church-youth-volunteer-kissed-and-fondled-teen-boy-police-say/
A spokesperson for NewSpring Church, Suzanne Swift, released the following statement regarding the case:
CT--Rabbi sued for alleged child sex abuse; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, May 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])
A New Haven rabbi is accused of molesting a child. We applaud the brave man who has filed this new child sex abuse lawsuit. http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/daniel_greer_lawsuit/
Eliyahu Mirlis of New Jersey accuses Rabbi Daniel Greer of repeatedly raping and molesting students at his New Haven yeshiva. Greer is associated with two schools in New Haven.
NY--Syracuse bishop must do outreach in child porn case
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 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])
Today, a Syracuse man will likely plead guilty in a child pornography case. Regardless of what happens in court, however, Syracuse Bishop Robert Cunningham has a moral and civic duty to aggressively seek out others who may have suspicions or knowledge of his crimes and beg them to call law enforcement.
MN--Another priest accused of child sex crimes; Victims respond
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 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])
Another accused Crookston predator priest has been suspended because of credible reports of child sex crimes. That makes at least seven publicly accused Crookston area child molesting Catholic clerics (according to BishopAccountability.org)
Bishop Michael Hoeppner should spread the word about this move far and wide and aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered the cleric’s crimes.
Over the weekend, Fr. Pat Sullivan was temporarily suspended for abuse that happened eight or nine years ago. He recently worked in Dillworth and Hawley.
http://www.kvrr.com/news/local-news/Dilworth-Hawley-Priest-Accused-of-Sexual-Misconduct/39343722
USA--Ten sex-offending church workers are listed on website
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 2016
For more information: David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbra Graber (540-214-8874, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, [email protected], Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Ten sex-offending church workers are listed on website
They’re from CA, PA, VA, OH, KS, OR, IN and Manitoba, Canada
Each is an admitted, convicted or credibly accused clergy or church employee
Group vows to “expose more who commit sex crimes & misdeeds against kids & adults"
Victims challenge Mennonite officials: “Burden of stopping predators shouldn’t fall on us”
A support group for survivors of sexual abuse is adding five more names to their recent on-line posting of what they call “sexual predators” in Anabaptist Mennonite institutions. The organization promises to keep expanding the list “for the protection of others.”
PA-- Predator priest who worked in Philly is sentenced again
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 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])
Last Friday, a serial predator priest - who worked in Philadelphia and abused kids in Oklahoma - was sentenced to 20-40 more years behind bars for more child sex crimes he committed in Michigan. For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, we hope he stays behind bars for as long as possible. And we hope that Philadelphia Catholic officials will spread this news and use church bulletins, pulpit announcements, and church websites to aggressively seek out others who he may have hurt.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_06_04_Ross_RecordsShow_James_Rapp_5.htm
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2002_12_01_Sallah_ShameSin.htm
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/04/29/pirest-james-rapp-sexual-abuse/83726260/
SD--Victims blast archaic SD child safety law