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).
NY--Prison chaplain removed for abuse allegations
For immediate release Thursday January 21, 2016
Statement by Megan Peterson, SNAP leader, [email protected], 218-684-0073
Our hearts go out to anyone who was molested by a cleric. If kids are to be safer, we as a society must welcome and support abuse reports no matter when they are made.
In our experience, often sexually troubled clerics are assigned to “special ministries” like prisons, nursing homes, and hospitals. We strongly suspect this isn’t the first allegation against this priest. We hope we’re wrong but bet we are not.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pastor-removed-after-decades-old-sex-abuse-allegations-surface/
MI--SNAP: Kalamazoo bishop makes more hurtful remarks
For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Lest anyone feel too positive about Archbishop John Nienstedt’s leaving Michigan, let us make a sad, simple point: It should not take outrage by parents, parishioners and the public to get a Catholic official who’s credibly accused of committing and concealing clergy sexual misdeeds and crimes out of ministry.
http://media.mlive.com/kzgazette_impact/other/Letter%20From%20Fr%20John%20Fleckenstein.pdf
PA-- Joe Paterno Nike shoes? Nope. “Thanks,” victims say
For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP outreach director (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
New court records show that Nike dropped a plan to possibly produce shoes honoring Joe Paterno. We're grateful for this decision. But we hope no other profit-seekers are considering similar projects. Honoring Paterno rubs salt into the already-deep and often still-fresh wounds of child sex abuse victims, especially those hurt by Paterno's long-time colleague Jerry Sandusky.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/joepa_shoes_court_document_ask.html
MN & NC--Secret records about ex-NC abusive cleric are released
For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Long-secret records about a child molesting cleric who worked in Raleigh and abused two North Carolina brothers have been released because abuse victims insisted on the disclosure as part of a legal settlement. North Carolina Catholic officials should tell parents, parishioners and the public about him.
He’s Father Raymond Francisco Schulte. (His photo is at BishopAccountability.org)
MN--Secret records about abusive Duluth cleric are released
For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
Statement by Verne Wagner of Duluth, SNAP director Northern Minnesota (218-340-1277, [email protected])
More than 900 pages of long-secret records about a child molesting cleric who worked in Duluth have been released and are now on-line, because abuse victims insisted on the disclosure as part of a legal settlement. Duluth Catholic officials should tell parents, parishioners and the public about him and his crimes. Duluth parents and parishioners should read up about him and tell others about him. If he hurt even one child during his six years in northern Minnesota, we want that suffering person to know that he or she is not alone.
He’s Father Brennan Maiers. (His photo is at BishopAccountability.org) In the 1990s, he worked as a chaplain at three places in Duluth: St. Scholastica Monastery, St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Duluth Federal prison camp. He now lives at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville.
MI--Accused archbishop leaves new Michigan post; Victims respond
For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016
Statement by Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP president (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Accused Archbishop John Nienstedt is leaving his Battle Creek Michigan post. But Catholic officials in Rome, Kalamazoo and St. Paul should have ordered him to leave. For the safety of the parishioners and the public, he should not ever be put back into ministry. Doing so would be a risky, callous move that would reward and encourage more recklessness and deceit.
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/01/controversial_archbishop_leave.html
OR--Secret records about ex-OR abusive cleric are released
For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Long-secret records about a child molesting Catholic cleric who worked in Oregon have been released because abuse victims insisted on the disclosure as part of a legal settlement. Oregon church officials should tell parents, parishioners and the public about him.
He’s Father Raymond Francisco Schulte. (His photo is at BishopAccountability.org) As recently as 2010, he was living in Rome. But around 1998, he worked at three missions of the Parish of St. Patrick in Madras, Oregon (in the Baker diocese).
http://www.andersonadvocates.com/Posts/News-or-Event/62/St-Johns-Abbey-faces-new-abuse-suit.aspx
AZ & UT--Victims applaud unusual trial involving Mormon sect
For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
We applaud the US Justice Department for its unusual civil rights case, going to trial now in Phoenix, against two towns on the Arizona-Utah line “that authorities say were acting as agents of a corrupt polygamist regime,” according to the Associated Press. We hope federal authorities prevail over officials with Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona, who are accused of showing favoritism to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, helping sect leader Warren Jeffs while he was a fugitive, and discriminating against adherents of other faith groups.
PA--Molesting minister is arrested; Now, investigate his colleagues
For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
We are thrilled that Rev. Jacob Malone has been arrested but we hope law enforcement officials will investigate and perhaps charge others at his churches – in Minnesota, Pennsylvania or Arizona - who may have ignored or concealed his child sex crimes.
MA--Accused Boston area predator priest won’t be charged; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 19
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Just because a prosecutor isn’t filing charges now against an accused predator priest does not mean that the cleric is innocent.
http://www.itemlive.com/news/da-not-prosecuting-lynn-priest/