More CA predator priest records released; SNAP responds

For immediate release: Monday, September 8, 2013

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])

Because brave clergy abuse survivors insisted on disclosure, more files about more California child molesting clerics are being released today. We beg California’s bishops to spread the word far and wide about these predators. But we seriously doubt that they will. And we urge the Vincentians to start defrocking Fr. Jerome Herff, “who told (an admitted predator priest) to flee after his 1987 confession and placed him back in ministry the following year” (according to the Associated Press).

Herff’s claims that he told Fr. Carlos Rodriguez to flee because he feared for the priest’s safety ring false. (If this is true, why didn’t he call the police?) And it doesn’t explain why Fr. Herff quickly put Fr. Rodriguez back on the job, even though Fr. Rodriguez admitted molesting kids.

This happened in 1987 when even virtually every adult knew that child sexual abuse was illegal and should be reported to police. But of course church officials – in the Los Angeles Archdiocese and in the Vincentians – did the opposite: they helped an admitted child molester flee the state, get back to work, and sexually assault more children.

So what should happen now? Every California bishop should publicly announce that Fr. Herff will never work in their dioceses. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez should lead this charge, since Fr. Herff enabled Los Angeles kids to be hurt by Fr. Rodriguez. Every California bishop should post the names and files of each of these predators on their diocesan websites, so that more victims, witnesses and whistleblowers might come forward, the criminals will be prosecuted and jailed, and kids will be safer and victims will get help.

Other files of child molesting clerics released today include Fr. John Kohnke (Norbertines), and Fr. Gabriel F. Salinas, Fr. Jose J. Mendez (Augustinians), and Fr. John V. Farris and Fr. John (Jon) E. Ruhl (Vincentians). http://www.lorpb.com/September-Release.aspx

So what should happen now? Every California bishop should publicly announce that Fr. Herff will never work in their dioceses. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez should lead this charge, since Fr. Herff enabled Los Angeles kids to be hurt by Fr. Rodriguez. Every California bishop should post the names and files of each of these predators on their diocesan websites, so that more victims, witnesses and whistleblowers might come forward, the criminals will be prosecuted and jailed, and kids will be safer and victims will get help.

Other files of child molesting clerics released today include Fr. John Kohnke (Norbertines), and Fr. Gabriel F. Salinas, Fr. Jose J. Mendez (Augustinians), and Fr. John V. Farris and Fr. John (Jon) E. Ruhl (Vincentians). http://www.lorpb.com/September-Release.aspx

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, [email protected])