MO--Victims blast KC archbishop over new disclosure
For immediate release: Tuesday, Sept. 29
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
“Credible allegations” of child sex abuse have surfaced against a deceased Kansas City area priest.
http://issuu.com/theleaven/docs/leaven_09-11-15
The short, quiet disclosure about Fr. Edward Roberts came on Sept. 11 in a church newspaper published by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansa. Shame on Archbishop Joseph Naumann and his top aides. They know it’s disingenuous to disclose this information in this very limited way. They know that a small notice in a Catholic publication reduces the chances that a deeply wounded, still struggling survivor will see and be comforted by this news.
And shame on the newspaper’s staff: Father Mark Goldasich, Anita McSorley, Todd Habiger, Joe Bollig, Jill Ragar Esfeld, and Julie Holthaus. They also know it’s disingenuous to disclose this information in this very limited way.
Fr. Roberts worked at St. Peter Cathedral in KC, St Teresa in Westphalia, Sacred Heart in Baileville, St. Gregory in Marysville, St. Joseph in Nortonville and Holy Name in Topeka.
We strongly suspect that this isn’t the first report about abuse by Fr. Roberts that church officials have received.
We commend the brave individual who made this report. We hope he or she is working hard to recover from this trauma. And we hope others who saw, suspected or suffered Fr. Roberts’ crimes will come forward, seek help, expose wrongdoers, deter cover ups and start healing.
And we hope that KC Catholics – on both sides of the state line – will confront Naumann about his self-serving secrecy. Announcements like this should be made in the most open way possible. Naumann should hold a news conference about such revelations, begging victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call police. (Fr. Roberts can’t be prosecuted but it’s possible that other clerics who concealed evidence, misled police, shredded documents or kept silent about these crimes might still be charged.)
It’s sad and ironic that this disclosure surfaces about 48 hours after Pope Francis said “abuse cannot be kept secret any longer” and “all responsible will be held accountable."
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine(312-399-4747, [email protected])
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas - The Leaven
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has recently received credible allegations of abuse of minors against Father Edward Roberts, a priest of the archdiocese who died in 1997. Ordained in 1941, Father Roberts was assigned to the following parishes: the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kansas City, Kansas; St. Teresa, Westphalia; Sacred Heart, Baileyville; St. Gregory, Marysville; St. Joseph, Nortonville; and Holy Name, Topeka.
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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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