Media Statements

For immediate release: Thursday, March 12

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

We’re worried about Spokane’s new bishop and how he’ll deal with clergy sex abuse cases.

Thomas Anthony Daly has spent time in the San Francisco archdiocese (26 publicly accused predator priests) and the San Jose diocese (12 publicly accused predator priests). He was promoted to head a seminary by the highly controversial and secretive Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco.   

For immediate release: Thursday, March 12

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

We’re worried about Lexington’s new bishop and how he’ll deal with clergy sex abuse cases.

In a 2008 interview, Rev. John Stowe made three troubling comments about the church’s on-going clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2008/01_02/2008_01_25_Gonzalez_SiftingThrough.htm  

For immediate release: Wednesday, March 11

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

Soon a cleric accused of child sex crimes will go on trial, and it’s never too late for those who saw, suspected or suffered his wrongdoing to step forward. We hope more victims, witnesses and whistleblowers will find the courage to call law enforcement about Adam Metropoulos of Bangor.

http://wabi.tv/2015/03/11/trial-to-start-against-bangor-priest-accused-of-sex-crimes/  

For immediate release: Wednesday, March 11

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, [email protected])

A noted Vatican observer and blogger, Rocco Palmo, says that tomorrow the Vatican will name a new Catholic bishop for the Lexington Diocese.   

For immediate release: Wednesday, March 11

Statement by Frank Meuers of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, [email protected])

Father Curtis Wehmeyer has apparently been defrocked by the Vatican. The recklessness and callousness shown by Twin Cities Catholic officials in this case is among the most egregious that we've seen in the past decade.   

                     An open letter to Dr. Camille Cosby, from one Mother to another Mother

After meeting your husband in 1988, I felt that I knew you both.  The similarities in our lives as young adults in the mid 60’s were striking!  Both our husband’s names are “Bill” for William, both born in July and the same sign, both college graduates, both black fraternity men, both successful in their professions, and both with a unique sense of humor too.  As couples we met in the same city of Washington, DC and visited the same venues as dating couples: Ben’s Chilly Bowl, Rock Creek Park, Howard’s campus and games, The Cellar Door, and others. You married in 1964 in Olney, MD not far from where we later lived. We married in 1965 in DC.  All of our children have pursued higher education. Our son was in college in 1988. Our value system is rather “old school” as is yours from what I know.    

For immediate release: Wednesday, March 11

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

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, [email protected])

Last year, a St. Louis judge ordered the Catholic archdiocese to turn over to a victim’s lawyer church abuse and cover up records over a 20 year span.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2014/07_08/2014_07_07_Lilly_Post-Dispatch_Settlement_Settlement.htm   

For immediate release: Tuesday, March 10

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, [email protected])

We applaud Judy Thompson for her courageous letter to comedian Bill Cosby’s wife Camille and each of the women who are seeking justice and healing by suing Cosby, filing police reports against him or speaking out about his crimes.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned in SNAP over the past quarter century, it’s that persistence and creativity can sometimes prevail over even the most powerful or popular predator.

For immediate release: Tuesday, March 10

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

Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki blasted our group and the news media today, twice deceptively using the phrase "rumors and gossip" and accusing journalists of reporting “without question” allegedly “false and defamatory claims.”  (We've just now gotten a copy of his statement.)  

For immediate release: Tuesday, March 10

Statement by David Clohessy of SNAP (314 566 9790, [email protected])

In his news conference today, we suspect that Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki will criticize our group for raising concerns about what he’ll call “old” cases.