Victims to leaflet Catholic Church Neighborhood

A just-suspended accused predator priest worked there

SNAP: “If you saw or suspected abuse, you have to speak up”

Victims will urge neighbors and parishioners to ask Rigali to turn over all records to police

WHAT
Clergy sex abuse victims will hand out fliers at a church and in the neighborhood where a just-suspended alleged predator priest worked until two weeks ago. The leaflets will urge parishioners and neighbors to
-- ask loved ones and fellow church members/neighbors if anyone saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups,
-- ask their pastor and top archdiocesan officials including Cardinal Rigali to turn over all records about sex crimes and allegations to police and prosecutors.

WHEN: Saturday, March 19, at 1:15 p.m.

WHERE: Outside Ascension of our Lord church, Westmoreland and F Sts (near 735 Westmoreland) in Philadelphia, and surrounding neighborhood.

WHO
A handful of members of a victims’ self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Washington DC man who is one of the organization’s National spokespersons

WHY
Two weeks ago Cardinal Rigali temporarily suspended 21 alleged abusive clerics. Among them was Father Michael A. Chapman, who has worked at Ascension of our Lord church since about 2002. He previously worked at St Bonaventure, St Henry, St Veronica, the Cathedral of Ss Peter and Paul and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (La Milagrosa) in Philadelphia as well as St Augustine in Bridgeport and St Agnes in West Chester. He was ordained in 1982.

Last month, a Philadelphia grand jury report concluded that 37 credibly accused offender priests were still working among unsuspecting families and innocent children in local Catholic parishes. In response, Philadelphia’s Cardinal Justin Rigali claimed no priests with “established or admitted” abuse was still on the job.

Since then Rigali announced the removal of three priests and followed that with the temporary suspension of 21 alleged abusive clerics.

The Grand Jury report indicated that Rigali had not turned over all records subpoena’s by the prosecutor. SNAP will encourage parishioners and neighbors to pressure Rigali to do so.

SNAP is reaching out to anyone from the church or neighborhood who may have information about abuse and encouraging those with information to report it to police.

CONTACT
Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003 cell; SNAPdorris@gmail.com, David Clohessy 314 566 9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com , Dave Lorenz, 301 906 9161, Barbara Blaine, 312 399 4747