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).
OH--Catholic seminary makes promises; Victims respond
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])
It’s all well and good to promise “we’ll do better in the future.” Catholic officials, when facing abuse scandals, excel at pledging improvement. They’re usually very poor, however, at follow through.
It’s hard to believe that church officials in Columbus, Steubenville and Vermont were unaware that dozens of seminaries had rejected Joel Wright. And Catholic officials have been talking about better seminary screening for decades. So it’s hard to be enthusiastic about this latest promise.
CA--Victims urge outreach by Oakland/San Jose bishops in case of recently exposed predator priest, again demand abuser names be made public
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175,[email protected])
In a lawsuit filed recently in the state of Texas Father Milton Eggerling was accused of child sexual abuse for the first time in public. The priest was accused of molesting an altar boy in Austin in the 1970s, beginning when the boy was 11 and continuing for five years.
The attorney for the victim, Tahira Khan Merritt, said that Eggerling, who was ordained in 1954, was a priest for a long time and likely had more victims. She also said that her client filed the lawsuit hoping that others would come forward.
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Eggerling_Milton.htm
WA--Victims want accused predator suspended
For immediate release: Friday, March 18, 2016
For more info: David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected]
Victims want accused predator suspended
Almost 3 weeks ago, he was sued for abuse
Alleged crimes took place for over a decade
But he is apparently being keeping on the job
SNAP: “He’s crossed the river & now deals with alcoholics
Group urges Catholic officials to “reach out to other victims”
An alleged predator priest is still on the job in the Seattle archdiocese today and a victims’’ group wants him ousted.
In a civil lawsuit filed three weeks ago in Oregon, for the first time publicly, Fr. Emmerich Vogt was accused of being a child molester. But his Catholic supervisors have not suspended him.
http://katu.com/news/local/lawsuit-claims-priest-sexually-abused-portland-boy
http://roggendorf-law.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/complaint-copy.pdf
NH--Victims see four “positives” in prep school rapist’s jailing
For immediate release: Friday, March 18, 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 grateful that Owen Labrie is behind bars and believe his probation violation may have three positive impacts.
MS--Victims applaud arrest of predatory Baptist preacher
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 16
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])
Thank heavens for the attentive and responsive parents who reported an allegedly abusive Baptist youth pastor to the Hancock County sheriff. Often kids can’t tell, parents don’t believe them, or families foolishly tell church figures, not secular authorities. This mom and dad, however, promptly did the proper thing – they honored their moral and civic duty by calling law enforcement. We applaud them for their courage and wisdom.
PA--SNAP: Bishops, Catholics & public must punish Franciscans
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 15, 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])
At least eight other Franciscan friars – besides notorious serial predator Brother Stephen Baker - had been transferred to other locations following abuse allegations. So says Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
The next step is obvious: The Franciscans must disclose who and where these eight accused predators are and have been. That’s a belated but crucial step forward.
WV--Victims challenge bishop to act
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 15, 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])
Criminal charges have been filed against three Catholic officials who assigned priests to work in the Wheeling-Charleston diocese. We challenge Bishop Michael J. Bransfield to take action to help prosecutors convict these complicit clerics.
Franciscans, including notorious serial predator Brother Stephen Baker, have worked for years in Philippi, WV. A grand jury in Pennsylvania has found that Franciscan officials moved eight accused clerics elsewhere after they were accused of assaulting kids.
IN--Accused Notre Dame predator priest commits suicide; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 14, 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])
An accused predator priest, who was allowed to keep working for months despite being named in a lawsuit as an abuser, has taken his own life.
http://therivardreport.com/fr-virgilio-elizondo-reportedly-takes-his-own-life/
MN--Twin Cities Catholic official faces criminal charges
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 14, 2016
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747)
We are grateful that three Catholic officials who enabled a serial predator to assault 90 kids are being criminally charged. Those who commit clergy sex crimes are sometimes charged. But those who conceal those crimes are rarely charged.
One of them is in the Twin Cities:
FL--Orlando Catholic official faces criminal charges
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 14, 2016
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747)
We are grateful that three Catholic officials who enabled a serial predator to assault 90 kids are being criminally charged. Those who commit clergy sex crimes are sometimes charged. But those who conceal those crimes are rarely charged.