Media Statements

(For Immediate Release September 19, 2022) 

Two new sexual abuse allegations have been brought against a suburban Chicago priest who was reinstated as a pastor in November of 2021 after a review board found there was “insufficient reason to suspect” he had sexually abused children 25 years ago. SNAP wants Cardinal Blase Cupich to provide additional information about the nature of these new accusations and to beg victims and witnesses to come forward. Continued secrecy from the Archdiocese only deepens mistrust in the Church.

In a letter to parishioners of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Parish in Lake Zurich, the Cardinal wrote that the Archdiocese of Chicago was notified on Friday of two additional allegations of child sexual abuse by Rev. David Ryan. Fr. Ryan had faced an earlier accusation of child sexual abuse stemming from his time at Maryville Academy in Chicago's northwest suburbs. In fact, Fr. Ryan was reinstated after a Church investigation cleared him of those charges, only to be removed again when "new information" came to light in September of 2021. The clergyman was reinstated for a second time in November 2021.

We are relieved that Fr. Ryan has once again been removed from ministry. We know that false allegations of child sexual abuse are rare, and three false allegations are even rarer. Child abusers seldom cease abusing on their own, and this move may safeguard today's children from harm while also inspiring others to speak up.

However, we are dismayed that Catholic officials in Chicago continue to provide incomplete information about the accusations and minimize the significance of this news by offering prayers for Fr. Ryan and highlighting his cooperation. We remain skeptical about the way that the earlier allegations against this priest were handled. It seems to us that every diocese strives to frame its announcements in such a manner that parishioners and the general public are encouraged to believe that the accused is innocent and that the victim is making "false allegations."Such implications are not useful for ascertaining the truth.

From 1985 through the early 2000s, Fr. Ryan held powerful leadership positions in the Archdiocese, so we commend the survivors who have had the courage to come forward. We anticipate that there are more victims. We urge anyone who may have suffered, witnessed, or suspected Fr. Ryan of child sexual abuse to immediately make a report directly to law enforcement.

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager, (267-261-0578, [email protected]) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected]), Larry Antonsen, SNAP Chicago (773-255-3382,  [email protected] )  

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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(For Immediate Release September 15, 2022) 

A prominent Reform synagogue in the District has argued that parents suing over alleged child sex abuse surrendered their right to bring a lawsuit when they signed activity waivers upon enrolling their children in school, court documents show. To us, this is a legal dodge that demonstrates that synagogue leaders care more about their pocketbooks than they do the protection of children, and we hope local parents and parishioners join us in our outrage at this argument.

In 2019, a group of parents filed a lawsuit against the Washington Hebrew Congregation, alleging that authorities at the Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center ignored warning flags while a teacher sexually abused youngsters. According to the lawsuit, the employee was also permitted to be alone with pupils, despite District standards requiring at least two workers to be present with toddlers in registered child development facilities.

What has astonished us in this lengthy lawsuit is the attorneys for the Washington Hebrew Congregation filed a move for summary judgment in July, asking the court to rule before a trial. The school's counsel contended that by signing the waiver form, parents forfeited their right to sue.

This is, in our opinion, a terrible attempt to stifle the voices of survivors and their families. The entire congregation at Washington Hebrew should demand the best interest of children but instead sit on the sidelines and allow their attorney to slap the faces of those who suffered the alleged horror.

According to Asher Lovy, Director of Community Organizing at ZA'AKAH, who is fiscally sponsored by SNAP, "For a school to claim, essentially, that being sexually abused is a regular function of a child's school experience is not only shocking but indicative of exactly the kind of culture that leads to those kids having been sexually abused. If Washington Hebrew Congregation truly believes that sexual abuse is a reasonable function of their school, perhaps they should include that in their future advertisement and count the seconds until they're shuttered."

It has also been reported that following a high-profile investigation in 2018, D.C. police said there was “insufficient probable cause” to make an arrest. Fourteen children were allegedly abused, according to court documents.

To us, this maneuver by defense counsel is an attempt to divert attention away from the fact that the individuals who brought forth the allegations are suffering as a result of their own church or congregation's actions to cover up the atrocities. As we continue to assist victims and their families, it becomes evident by the day that no institution is exempt from child abuse. We fully support them and ask the court to dismiss this heinous request.

CONTACT: Becky Ianni, SNAP Virginia Leader  ([email protected], 703-801-6044) Asher Lovy, Director of Community Organizing at ZA'AKAH ( [email protected]) Mike McDonnell, Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

(For Immediate Release September 15, 2022) 

Robert Cedolia, a priest who worked in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pa., has yet to be brought to justice and the victim watches the wheels of justice slowing down. In 2019, he was placed on leave following a complaint to the IRCP (Reconciliation Compensation Program) that he sexually molested an 8-year-old boy in 1998 while pastor of Our Lady of Joy in Plum, Pa. His alleged victim said the priest assaulted him twice while he was preparing for first communion. Cedolia disputed the charges. In April 2021, he was accused criminally in a complaint.

Using the sacraments as a weapon, in our opinion, adds to the victim's horrible agony. However, the protracted wait in this instance is also problematic. Following many extensions due to a change in defense counsel, status hearings, and scheduling, another extension sets a jury trial for November 2022.

We are concerned about Fr. Cedolia's present location because his bail was set in 2021 and there is no sign that he is detained. We are concerned that the priest may have access to more children as a result of the delay. Furthermore, the IRCP was used to present this allegation which resulted in subsequent charges. To the best of our knowledge, each case that has not previously been known to the diocese must also go through a canonical investigation. The Diocese of Pittsburgh has yet to disclose any findings against Cedolia because doing so would demonstrate openness and accountability, something church officials have been unable to do. Following SNAP's persistent demands, Cedolia is now mentioned on the Diocese of Pittsburgh website.

While we understand that the Covid-19 pandemic halted many proceedings in courts globally, we would hope that court administrators could prioritize the more serious cases such as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Robert Cedolia.

Further delay in court proceedings deprives victims of power, control, and dignity. We stand in solidarity with the brave victim who stepped forward and admire his courage and endurance. Our hope is that no further court continuances happen in this case.

CONTACT:  Mike McDonnell, Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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(For Immediate Release September 14, 2022) 

Media Release   13/09/2022

For immediate use

New Zealand Catholic Abuse Survivors Appeal to Pope

New Zealand nationwide

Survivors of sexual abuse by clergy and religious of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand have appealed directly to Pope Francis to help initiate an ‘urgent, independent and transparent review’ of the administration of the Church’s in-house national redress scheme.

This follows a failed appeal to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and the New Zealand Government’s exclusion of faith-based survivors from early compensation pay-outs. The Government wants faith-based institutions to continue with their own redress schemes.

However, abuse survivor and spokesperson for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in Aotearoa, Dr Christopher Longhurst, said victims and survivors in New Zealand were not being treated justly under the Catholic Church’s redress scheme.

Longhurst clarified that survivors were calling for a review of the Church’s handling of abuse complaints for reasons of an apparent lack of integrity and competence. He emphasised that the issue was ‘the repeated maladministration of complaints by church officials and the hierarchy’s failure to do anything about it.’ (Attached copy of letter to Pope Francis and translation, also available at link below).

Contact Dr Christopher Longhurst   Phone New Zealand 0223440496

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests in Aotearoa New Zealand. Web http://www.snapnetwork.org/ | Email [email protected] 

https://www.snapnetwork.org/aotearoa_new_zealand

(For Immediate Release September 9, 2022) 

A former Utah city mayor and Latter-day Saints bishop has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing at least three youngsters decades ago.

According to a probable cause statement, Carl Matthew Johnson, 77, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Davis County prison in northern Utah on suspicion of seven charges of sex abuse of a minor.

Investigators say Johnson acknowledged abusing three victims in 1985, 1993, and 1996 and estimated there was a total of six victims as young as 2-years-old, according to the document. He told investigators he had struggled “controlling his sexual urges” most of his life.

Sadly, in the Mormon church and other denominations, church officials still often try to handle serious criminal matters quietly and internally, acknowledging an investigation later and often only under serious external pressure. 

We applaud the victims who bravely detailed their horror to investigators, we stand with them and wholeheartedly believe that other victims will hear them. Given Johnson's age and extended career, we suspect there are many more than six victims. We hope they find the fortitude and confidence to approach law enforcement with their information and get the help they need. We also encourage Mormon church authorities to move beyond brief, carefully prepared remarks and respond to claims of involvement in the most direct way imaginable.

There are two lessons here. First, those who see, suspect, and suffer child sex crimes must report to secular authorities, not church authorities. Second, when church figures suspect or know of child sex crimes, they must immediately contact the police, and not start “circling the wagons.” Johnson had full access to vulnerable children while working for the church and as an elected official. From our viewpoint, the community should be outraged. 

Utah SNAP Leader, Judy Larson shared comments with 2KUTV news, ‘Members of the church just don’t want to believe it, because, in the Mormon church, he lives just down the street.’

This is why at SNAP, we believe the line from the Academy Award-winning film "Spotlight" rings true: "It takes a village to abuse a child." However, we also know that a village with information or suspicions about abuse can also protect others from harm.

 CONTACT: Judy Larson, SNAP Board Member and Utah Leader ([email protected], 801-831-5277), Mike McDonnell, Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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(For Immediate Release September 6, 2022) 

Reverend Jaroslaw "Jerry" Gamrot, 58, of Holy Face Catholic Church and Little Flower School in Great Mills, has been charged in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on a highway in July. Gamrot, a native of Poland who now resides in Frederick County, Maryland, was served with the accusations on August 21. Gamrot works under the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.

We urge Cardinal Wilton Gregory to assist police in their investigation of this alleged crime by promptly contacting every parish where Fr. Gamrot worked and urging anybody who witnessed, suspected or was a victim of any crime to come forward and report it to secular authorities. Another news site reports that Gamrot has worked in other countries. Gregory must also formally notify his equivalents and authorities in those areas.

If these claims are shown to be accurate, we have every reason to believe that the accused perpetrator has previously committed similar lewd conduct. We are profoundly concerned not just for the parishioners of the church where Gamrot worked, but also for the youngsters at Little Flower School who are within his grasp.

We believe Gamrot's name, photo, and work history should be included in parish bulletins and webpages, along with a request for victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers to contact authorities. There are hundreds of parish newsletters, church websites, and pulpits where spoken statements might and should be made, urging anybody with information or suspicions to come forward.

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager([email protected], 267-261-0578),  Becky Ianni, SNAP Virginia Leader ([email protected], 703-801-6044) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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(For Immediate Release September 6, 2022) 

If the Pope is serious about ending clerical sex abuse, he would promptly purge his cardinals and bishops. Any abuser should undoubtedly be removed. Any enabler should be removed. He can begin with Michael Barber of Oakland, who has allowed two priests to escape under his supervision.

In our view, Pope Francis should order all clergy abuse files to be opened globally and that lists of the credibly accused are published. Sean O'Malley, his top US monitor, hasn't even ordered his own capuchin province to produce a list. So, who is keeping an eye on the watchdog?

The idea of the Catholic church being cleaned of such heinous history is one we would like to see come true. However, we have concerns. For starters, the priesthood attracts pedophiles, and there is no method to screen or diagnose a pedophile ahead of time. That means the church's best bet is to remain attentive. But it will be challenging to remain watchful if working bishops are offenders or have been socialized to support child abusers.

Second, minimal observable progress has been made with pope-driven initiatives such as the Vox Estis effort. That half-baked endeavor reveals yet another private, internal procedure controlled by conflicts of interest. Look no further than Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada.

A miracle on the trail to canonization would be cleaning up the church. Because hope and prayer without action is not a strategy, we continue to emphasize the need for secular authorities to close the gaps that allow the church's leadership to dodge long-overdue accountability.

We've long advocated for zero tolerance, complete openness, and accountability. Pope Francis is being praised for expressing things like "zero tolerance," yet he is still not implementing it. His words belie his actions, which show nothing but tolerance for abusers until he orders that all abuse complaints be reported to police authorities.

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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Yet another institution that purports to be a moral authority has again fallen flat. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, when confronted with an opportunity to provide healing and justice to women who were sexually abused by an ELCA missionary, has chosen to protect its coffers instead of the families they claim to serve. Once again, we are faced with an uncomfortable reality – that our institutions that we have been raised to believe in and care for do not believe in nor care for us.

Yet another European country has released a report into cases of clergy abuse and yet again we are unsurprised by the revelations and expect more to come. Today, the Spanish newspaper El Pais released the results of their own investigation into the sexual abuse of children by Jesuits, reporting that at least 130 Jesuit priests molested at least 160 children. Our hearts break for the victims, both the counted and uncounted, and hope that this report encourages more survivors to break their silence and report their abuse.