NE- Accused predator priest worked in Nebraska

For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 30 2014

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

An accused predator priest who worked in Nebraska has been suspended from ministry in New Mexico because of credible allegations of child sex crimes.

http://www.abqjournal.com/344994/news/diocese-removes-accused-priest.html

He is Fr. Timothy Conlon.

We hope every single person who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Conlon – or cover ups by his church colleagues or supervisors – will call police, expose wrongdoing, and protect kids.

We hope every single current or former Catholic employee – in Nebraska, New Mexico or North Dakota - will do everything they can to seek out and help anyone who was hurt by Fr. Conlon. We hope every single Catholic parishioner does likewise.

Of course, Fr. Conlon was given access to Nebraska kids because one or more Nebraska bishops let him work in his diocese. So these bishops have a clear choice. They can split hairs, make excuses and do nothing (acting like cold-hearted CEOs). Or they can step up, show compassion and aggressively seek out others Fr. Conlon may have hurt. We hope they choose the responsible course.

Specifically, we hope they use their diocesan websites and parish bulletins and pulpit announcements to beg anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered Fr. Conlon's crimes to call police and prosecutors.

It's irresponsible to do nothing just because the crimes may have happened long ago. Child molesters rarely stop. And police and prosecutors are getting more creative and aggressive about pursuing even older child sex crimes.

So it's our job to share what we know and suspect with law enforcement. It's their job to determine whether charges can be filed.

The bottom line – staying silent helps predators and hurts kids.

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])

 

SNAP Network is a GuideStar Gold Participant