Paraguay- Victims predict admitted predator priest won't be charged
For immediate release: Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A Vatican team is being sent to investigate a priest who allegedly molested several U.S. boys and is now second-in-command at a diocese in Paraguay.
While we are very skeptical of internal church investigations, we are glad at least something is happening about this troubing case. But we also want bishops in both countries to reach out to others this priest has hurt.
Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity was accused of sexually abusing at least four boys at St. Gregory's Academy in Moscow, Pennsylvania between 2002-2004. At least two civil suits were filed and one of them was settled for $380,000. Scranton diocesan officials sent Fr. Urrutigoity to a church treatment center which concluded that he “should be removed from active ministry and his (priestly) faculties should be revoked.”
We call on Catholic officials throughout Paraguay, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania to aggressively reach out to their flocks - using their bully pulpits, church bulletins, diocesan websites, and personal parish visits - and beg anyone who saw, suspects or suffered child sex crimes to come forward, report any crimes or misdeeds they may have seen, suspected or suffered by Fr. Carlos to police and prosecutors.
And we urge those with information or suspicions about him to seek independent sources of help, like law enforcement officials and groups like ours.
A Boston-based research group called BishopAccountability.org disclosed that Fr. Urrutigoity is now in the Diocese of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay and is its Vicar General. We are grateful for their painstaking and accurate research.
In the 1990s, Fr. Urrutigioity lived and taught at the St. Pius X Seminary in Winona. He belonged to a controversial and very conservative religious order known as the Society of St. Pius X.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2006/07_08/2006_07_09_Janoski_TheSins.htm#urrutigoity
What could be more reckless and callous than quietly sending another credibly accused child molesting Catholic cleric overseas to live and work among unsuspecting families?
“Ironically, a few weeks ago Pope Francis complained that Catholic officials are 'singled out' and 'picked on' in abuse cases. This case should help him understand why: because his underlings continue to knowingly put kids in harm's way.
Transferring predator priests to different dioceses or countries is dreadfully irresponsible but sadly, nothing new. It is a dangerous and self-serving practice that puts unsuspecting families and children at great risk.
A spokesman for Bishop Joseph Bambera, who now heads Scranton diocese, claimed last Friday that “in every instance (the previous Scranton bishop) clearly expressed his reservations concerning Father Urrutigoity” “and cautioned the (Paraguay) bishop to not allow Father Urrutigoity into his diocese.”
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140315/NEWS/140319840
We are, however, are skeptical of this claim and think it misses the mark.
Private talks or letters among Catholic officials about predator priests rarely protect kids. Public admissions and outreach by Catholic officials is what protects kids.
It matters little what US Catholic officials say privately to other Catholic officials. What really matters is when Catholic officials publicly admit that a predator priest is dangerous and beg victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call police and prosecutors. Bishops in every place where Fr. Urrutigoity worked should do this now, and insist that the Pope start defrocking him.
Attorney Harry T. Coleman of Carbondale, Pennsylvania (570-282-7440, [email protected]) represented at least one of Fr. Urrutigoity's victims. The priest was represented by Sal Cognetti of Scranton. (570-346-0747, [email protected]).
Fr. Urrutigoity's work history and photo are here: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/Argentina/#Urrutigoity
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 18,000 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]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
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
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