New York Jesuits Accused of Hiding Names of Abusive Clergy
A new investigation reveals that Jesuit officials are still hiding the names of accused abusers. It’s another reminder that secretive institutions can’t police themselves and that parents and parishioners must stay vigilant and demand change.
Public records obtained recently by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle show that McQuaid school
- had received at least three independent accusations against former teacher John J. Tobin,
- the school eventually admitted to a reporter that it had in fact fired Tobin for what was described as "incidences of inappropriate behavior" during a class trip to Europe,
- yet Tobin was still omitted from a list of accused clerics and staff recently put out by the the Jesuits.
The newspaper also reports that additional accusations against two other Jesuit teachers at the school had been reported to Brighton police in 2003.
This story is more proof that Catholic officials are incapable of investigation themselves and being open and honest about clergy sex crimes. That is why we believe grand jury investigations and statutes of limitations reform are needed, and why victims, witnesses and whistleblowers must keep calling police, prosecutors, therapist and support groups like ours – so the truth can be revealed and so that the children can be protected.
Contact: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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