MN - Archbishop promises partial predator list
For immediate release: Monday, Nov. 11, 2013
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Archbishop John Neinstedt now says he’ll release a partial list of predator priests.
“If Twin Cities pedophile priests now live in Rochester or Winona or Duluth, tough luck. We’re not gonna tell you who or where they are.”
That’s the message Archbishop John Neinstedt is sending to Minnesota parents. We deliberately use the word “citizens” here and not “parishioners” because child molesting Catholic clerics don’t just hurt Catholic kids. They also sexually assault kids from other denominations, because they’re relatives, they live nearby or for a wide range of reasons.
“If a Twin Cities pedophile priest sexually assaulted you and is now deceased, tough luck. We’re not gonna disclose the names of any deceased predator, no matter how many kids he’s hurt, how recently he died or how egregiously we covered up for him.”
That’s the message Archbishop Neinstedt is sending to victims.
There is, of course, no reason to keep hiding any predator priests, whether they are now in Mankato or Morocco, whether they’re alive or deceased. (In fact, arguably, Twin Cities predator priests who are now living far away are likely more dangerous than those who still live nearby.)
In 2002, St. Paul Archbishop Harry Flynn and his brother US bishops formally pledged to be “open and transparent” about clergy sex crimes. They did NOT promised to be “open” only about predator priests who are alive or “transparent” only about predator priests who live nearby.
Why is Neinstedt announcing this today? Because he wants to divert attention away from the most disturbing revelations yet in the continuing cover up crisis in his archdiocese: the news that Neinstedt and his top aides kept silent for years (perhaps decades) about an admitted serial predator priest whose name hasn’t been made public until today, Fr. Clarence Vavra.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/mn_worse_revelation_yet_in_mn_archdiocese_snap_says
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Bob Schwiderski, SNAP Minnesota director (952 471 3422, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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