Media Statements

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

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.”

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mennonite_map

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/

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/Former--Teacher--Priest-at-Lumen-Christi-Catholic-High-School-in-Jackson-sentenced-today-377559141.html?ref=141

For immediate release:  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 5915home,[email protected])

Last Friday, a serial predator priest - who worked in Oklahoma and abused two Duncan boys - was sentenced to 40 years 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 Oklahoma 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/

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/Former--Teacher--Priest-at-Lumen-Christi-Catholic-High-School-in-Jackson-sentenced-today-377559141.html?ref=141

We're grateful that Fr. James Francis Rapp was charged again, pled guilty to more child sex crimes.

For immediate release: Sunday, May 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])

In a purportedly “forceful” tone, Pope Francis said child molesters must be “severely punished” but “did not specifically mention the church or its response to abuse.”

So what? When will a few papal sentences about how bad abuse is stop being news?

Just this week, a convicted priest who assaulted a California teenager was promoted to head an Oklahoma parish with a parochial school, until parishioners protects and their archbishop backed down.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/ok_archbishop_says_he_ll_remove_convicted_priest_victims_respond

For immediate release: Sunday, May 1, 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 Associated Press story cites “lax financial controls” in the Catholic church, quotes one source as saying that the US church may lose $90 million annually from theft and cites an independent survey that shows that 85% of US dioceses have experienced recent embezzlement.

http://www.cruxnow.com/ap/2016/05/01/bookkeeper-denies-theft-as-u-s-church-struggles-with-money-controls/

“American Catholics drop roughly $150 million into the Sunday collection plate every week,” the AP reports.

For immediate release: Sunday, May 1, 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])

On Friday, an already imprisoned serial predator priest who allegedly abused Utah boys was sentenced to 40 more years for hurting other kids 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 Utah 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. We believe that’s their moral and civic duty.

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/

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/Former--Teacher--Priest-at-Lumen-Christi-Catholic-High-School-in-Jackson-sentenced-today-377559141.html?ref=141

For immediate release: Saturday, April 30, 2016, 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])

Yesterday, a serial predator priest - who for years belonged to a Toledo-based Catholic group – was sentenced to 40 years for crimes in Michigan. For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, we hope he stays behind bars for as long as possible.

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/

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/Former--Teacher--Priest-at-Lumen-Christi-Catholic-High-School-in-Jackson-sentenced-today-377559141.html?ref=141