The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press Release
Just-arrested priest is from Detroit
He's charged with exposing himself
Whereabouts unclear of two other clerics
Both have been accused in last few years
One has been put back into active ministry 6 months ago
They were put at Jesuit church facility in a nearby suburb
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will disclose that a just-arrested priest in Florida and worked and studied in Detroit. They will publicly urge Detroit’s Catholic archbishop to
-- spread the word about the charges against the cleric,
-- urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes to call police, and
-- disclose the whereabouts of two other priests accused in the last two years of sexual misconduct in the Detroit area (one of whom is now in active ministry).
WHEN
Monday, June 13 at1:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Detroit archdiocesan headquarters (‘chancery office’), 1234 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI
WHO
Three victims of childhood clergy sexual abuse and belong to SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests – SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
1) Last Tuesday, Fr. Bernard Chojnacki was arrested for allegedly grabbing, propositioning and exposing himself to an undercover detective on a beach near Sarasota Florida. As recently as 2009, Chojnacki worked at St. Damian Westland Catholic church on Joy Road and just before that, he studied at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan.
http://www.stdamian.org/dotnetnuke/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DRxR0kRhcTQ%3D&tabid=101&mid=481
SNAP has no evidence that Chojnacki offended in the Detroit area, but fears that he may have. Since criminal charges are pending, the group wants Archbishop Allen Vigneron to use his archdiocesan website and parish bulletins to urge anyone who might have information or suspicions about Chojnacki’s misdeeds to contact law enforcement, so that he can be effectively prosecuted.
Ordained in 2009, Chojnacki is 36 years old and a native of Poland. In Florida, he worked at parishes in Venice, Palmetto, Naples and Port Charlotte.
2) SNAP is also urging Vigneron to disclose where two accused sex offender priests are now.
Six months ago, Fr. Roger Knapp was returned to active ministry by the archdiocese after being sentenced to probation in 2009 for exposing himself in a restaurant. But church officials have not, as best SNAP can tell, made any public announcement about where he is assigned.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2009/05_06/2009_06_03_HarrisonMartiin_WoodhavenPriest.htm
(At the time of the sex charges against him, Knapp worked at St. Victor's in Gibralter MI. While suspended.)
In January 2009, Fr. Kenneth Kaucheck was ousted from Guardian Angels parish in Clawson because of credible allegations he had molested a teen-aged girl. Again, the archdiocese has evidently told few or no parishioners where Kaucheck is now. SNAP believes he belongs in a remote, secure treatment center so that kids can be safer and so that he can get treatment.
SNAP feels that in both the Knapp and Kaucheck cases, Vigneron is violating his pledges to be “open and transparent” in clergy sex cases.
Both Knapp and Kaucheck apparently spent time at the Manresa Jesuit retreat center in Bloomfield Hills, according to the 6/5/09 The Detroit News & http://www.manresa-sj.org/910_Auction%202010%20Photos.htm
CONTACT
SNAP director David Clohessy of St. Louis 314 566 9790 cell, Matt Jatczak of Detroit, SNAPdetroit@gmail.com 248-252-5410, Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director 314 862 7688, 314 503 0003 SNAPdorris@gmail.com
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org