RI--RI predator priest is indicted
For immediate release: Friday, Nov. 21
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those
Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected])
A Rhode Island Catholic priest – Fr. Barry Meehan – now faces criminal child sex abuse charges. We call on Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin to personally visit every parish where the alleged predator worked, begging victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call law enforcement.
http://www.turnto10.com/story/27450606/ri-priest-charged-with-sexual-assault
All too often, child molesting clerics get expensive lawyers, exploit loopholes, and escape responsibility for their crimes. Even when they’re found guilty or plead guilty, they often rally their flock, pressure public officials and end up with little or no jail time. That’s irresponsible. That’s endangers kids.
The way to prevent this is simple: every person who has even a scintilla of information about Fr. Meehan’s crimes or misdeeds must call 911. This is no time to be complacent. Each one of us has a moral and civic duty to protect children by helping law enforcement catch and convict predators.
And all too often, Catholic officials passively sit back in criminal cases and do nothing. Tobin has a moral and civic duty too: to use his vast resources (church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements) to reach out to others who may have been hurt by Fr. Meehan and prod them to get help.
We commend the two courageous and compassionate victims who found the strength to help police, protect kids, expose wrongdoers and start healing. That is a brave and responsible course of action. And we beg anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by Fr. Meehan or cover ups by church officials to step forward too. We especially urge current and former Catholic employees in Rhode Island who may have heard rumors or reports of cover ups to speak up.
Finally, we commend members and leaders of our support group throughout New England who have been mounting a vigorous but quiet months-long effort to prod more victims in Rhode Island to call police and prosecutors. Their painstaking work is paying off and protecting children.
(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 (314-503-0003 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