Survivors Alerted: Accused priest working in Youngstown parish

For immediate release: Thursday, June 14, 2018

Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader: 636-433-2511, SNAPjudy@gmail.com

SNAP "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests" has learned from a concerned parishioner of the Youngstown Diocese, that credibly accused priest, Fr John Hammer, is working and living at St Michael parish in Canton, OH.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org

According to historic records, Hammer was removed from the Youngstown Diocese in 2002 after admitting to abuse of altar boy in 1980-1983. He was then moved to the Saginaw Mi diocese and was also accused of abuse there. 
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2018/03_04/2018_04_14_RomanCatholicDioceseofSaginaw_DiocesePublishes.htm 

Now Hammer is back in the Youngstown Diocese living at St Michael's parish which is a large parish with a parochial school. 

This is an unsafe situation that poses a threat to children in the parish. Bishop Murry needs to take action to keep this accused child predator in a secure treatment center and kept far away from kids.

We encourage all who may have knowledge or may have been harmed by Hammer to come forward and contact law enforcement.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website isSNAPnetwork.org ) 

Contact  -   Judy Jones, (636-433-2511, snapjudy@gmail.com), Tim Lennon (415-312-5820,tlennon@SNAPnetwork.org), Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, snapvirginia@cox.net)