Media Statements

For immediate release: Tuesday, March 29

Statement by Judy Jones, SNAP associate Midwest director, 635 433 2511, [email protected]

Another child sex abuse and cover up case against an ex-Columbus child molesting Catholic cleric has just settled.  Now, Columbus church officials must disclose his whereabouts, put him in a treatment center and aggressively seek out others he has hurt.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/03/28/columbus-catholic-diocese-settles-with-man-abused-from-1975-80.html#

For immediate release: Tuesday, March 29

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 member of a controversial church has been arrested for child sex crimes committed over nearly 11 years when he worked in “children’s ministry.” We hope kids at the church weren’t hurt. And we fear that other church members or staff knew of or suspected the abuse but kept silent. Why? Because that’s the pattern in this troubled denomination.

For immediate release: Tuesday, March 29

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

Fr. Stephen Pohl is to be sentenced today on child pornography charges. We hope he’s given the toughest possible sentence.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/31586560/louisville-priest-scheduled-to-be-sentenced-on-child-porn-charges    

For immediate release: Monday, March 28, 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])

The dispute over these so-called "religious objection" laws – here and elsewhere – involves more than adults with differing beliefs. It also involves innocent young kids and wounded adult victims who suffer when claims of “religious freedom” are used to protect clerics who commit and conceal heinous child sex crimes. 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/03/08/us/ap-us-xgr-religious-objections.html

For immediate release: Monday, March 28, 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])

Cases against several child molesting Boston area Catholic clerics have just settled, one of who was allowed to keep working in Massachusetts for years – until 2014 - after having been credibly accused of abusing a child in California.  http://radioboston.wbur.org/2016/03/28/settlements-clergy-abuse

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/28/boston-archdiocese-settles-with-victims-clergy-abuse-attorney-says/wlGixSXHESrNKuznIEwHkI/story.html

For immediate release: Monday, March 28, 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])

Now that the reins of the Twin Cities Catholic church are firmly in his hands, and now that Easter has passed,

Archbishop Bernard Hebda must reveal the results of the expensive but still-secret church inquiry into alleged sexual exploitation and misdeeds by his predecessor, Archbishop John Nienstedt.

For immediate release: Monday, March 28

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])

Cases against two ex-LA child molesting Catholic clerics have just settled.

One of them was allowed to keep working for years – until 2014 - after having been credibly accused of abusing a child. The other is a now-defrocked cleric whose crimes in southern California resulted in more than $3 million in settlements.

For immediate release: Friday, March 25, 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 applaud prosecutors who are trying to keep a convicted predator priest from illegally protecting his wealth. We hope they succeed.  http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/10206759-74/maurizio-attorney-haines

According to the Tribune-Review, “The U.S. Attorney's office asked a federal judge in Johnstown Friday to freeze the assets of Fr. Joseph D. Maurizio Jr. who was sentenced to 17 years in prison for molesting boys at a Honduran orphanage, alleging he is transferring his property to relatives.

Shame on Fr. Maurizio’s niece, Christine Shaulis, for her selfish and deceitful involvement in these illegal financial transfers. And shame on Fr. Maurizio’s Catholic supervisors for letting him create a self-run “charity” in the first place.

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])

The settlement of more clergy sex abuse and cover up cases in Seattle shows how little is changing in the Catholic hierarchy. Deeply-held secrets about clerics who commit and conceal sexual violence are pried loose and made public only when brave victims seek justice in court. Without continuous pressure from determined outsiders, prelates like Archbishop Peter Sartain continue to sit on secrets that could make kids safer, expose the truth and bring real healing.  

For immediate release: Thursday, March 24

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])

The new Twin Cities archbishop is a slightly friendlier version of the old Twin Cities archbishop. This is a disappointing choice for an archdiocese that deserves better and by a pope who knows better.