A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is urging Columbus Catholic officials to “aggressively seek out” anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by a former priest who is facing criminal charges right now. 

We are grateful any time clergy sex crimes and cover ups are publicly discussed. We applaud Bishop Dunn for raising this issue before his fellow church officials.

A former organist was today given 7 ½ years behind bars for spreading child pornography.

West Virginia’s top Catholic official is rejecting a plea from clergy sex abuse victims for a public meeting about child sex abuse allegations against him. Wheeling-Charleston Bishop Michael Bransfield said, through his spokesman, that he will not hold a question and answer session to discuss the accusations, first disclosed six months ago in a Philadelphia courtroom. 

Dear Bishop Bransfield:

We belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Our mission is to heal the wounded and protect the vulnerable and expose the truth about clergy sex crimes and cover ups.

Now that America’s most notorious serial child molester will stay behind bars, the focus will shift from the Penn State staffer who committed child sex crimes to the three Penn State staffers who concealed those crimes. 

Below is a letter sent today by fax and email to Bishop Matt Bartchak of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown:

(NOTE: Clohessy will attend Sandusky’s sentencing Tuesday morning and will hold a news conference on the Centre County Courthouse steps on Monday at 2 p.m.)

Now is no time to be complacent. Yes, one child predator, Jerry Sandusky, is behind bars and will likely stay there for the rest of his life. But many more child predators still walk free. And there are still plenty of schools and institutions that still seem to value their own reputations over the safety of their students or members. There’s still a climate of denial in which adults often rally around accused child predators and disbelieve their victims.

• Group appeals to Buffalo rabbis
• It doesn't want whistleblower ousted
• A vote is scheduled to be held this Friday 
• Local rabbi organization may impeach its president
• He spoke up about a credibly accused abusive colleague

We are grateful that more victims of Fr. Maurice McNeely are stepping forward. When victims stay silent, nothing changes. But when victims find the courage to take action, there's at least a chance for prevention, healing and justice. 

We’re cautiously encouraged that Scout officials now finally say they’ll give information about abusive Scout leaders to law enforcement. But we’ll believe it when we see it happening and it must start happening immediately.

A lawyer for a suspended Kansas City priest facing six child sex abuse lawsuits is asking a judge to sanction a support group for refusing to turn over records about two notorious child molesting clerics.