PA--Convicted predator priest is hiring public relations firm before sentencing
For immediate release: Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A convicted predator priest is apparently hiring a public relations firm in advance of his sentencing. We hope his bishop prevents him from doing this or that no firm accepts his offer. And we hope the IRS and other authorities investigate whether the cleric is breaking laws or misleading donors to his non-profit.
http://everything-pr.com/child-molesting-priest-seeks-to-hire-a-pr-agency/75923/
Father Joseph D. Maurizio of the Altoona-Johnstown diocese will learn his punishment in February. We hope it’s a harsh one that will keep him away from kids for years to come.
But between now and then, he hopes to hire spin doctors who can help him duck and dodge and deny responsibility for his heinous crimes. We hope he fails.
His boss, Bishop Mark Bartchak, has a dismal record on kids’ safety. Just a few months ago, authorities began investigating a seminary in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese. That probe “may be part of a larger investigation of child molestation over nearly three decades involving more than 20 priests in the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese,” according to one news source. (One of those clerics is Brother Stephen Baker, who molested nearly 100 children.)
http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_victims_applaud_ag_probe_of_monastery
Bartchak should forbid Fr. Maurizio from hiring a PR firm. If Maurizio defies him, Bartchak should publicly denounce Fr. Maurizio. Regardless, the bishop should use his vast resources to reach out to other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers who may have seen, suspected or suffered Fr. Maurizio’s crimes.
We hope anyone with knowledge or suspicions about crimes by Fr. Maurizio or cover ups by his clerical colleagues will call law enforcement, get independent help, expose church wrongdoers and protect vulnerable children.
(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])
Child Molesting Priest Seeks To Hire A PR Agency
2015-12-22 by Jason Tannahill of EverythingPR
Everything-PR has exclusively learned that Father Joseph D. Maurizio, a priest in Federal Prison for child sexual abuse charges has contacted a number of public relations firms seeking an agency willing to work the media to assist him in getting out of jail, or receiving a lenient sentence.
The Pennsylvania-based 70 year old was found guilty of “having sex with three boys at a Honduran orphanage that he supported through his nonprofit foundation, transferring money outside the United States to fund his illicit activities and having pornographic photos of children.”
Earlier this month, The Associated Press reported that . . .
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
Showing 1 comment