March 15, 2006

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis (314) 566 9790 cell
National Director of SNAP

At least some abusive priests have been defrocked,

At least some abusive priests have been prosecuted.

At least some abusive priests live in church run housing centers for pedophiles.

At least some abusive priests, at least theoretically, are being "monitored."

To the best of our knowledge, little of this applies or is going on with abusive bishops.

No abusive bishops are being defrocked. Few disclose their whereabouts. Fewer still, we fear, are being monitored. No current church officials claim they are actively taking any responsibility for protecting kids from potentially dangerous child-molesting bishops.

And there are between 10 and 20 proven, admitted or credibly accused abusive bishops: Soens in Iowa, Williams in Kentucky, Hart in Wyoming, O'Connell in Florida, Dupre in Massachusetts, Weakland in Wisconsin. (See others on our website: SNAPnetwork.org)

May God have mercy on the souls of today's church officials if one or more of these men have molested again or does molest again, after they have already been accused because of sexual abuse.

Catholics remain troubled because of the on-going clergy sex abuse crisis. This is one reason why.

Children remain at risk because of the on-going clergy sex abuse crisis. This is one reason why.

The broader, nagging, crucial yet unanswered question centers on prevention and on what must be done with the hundreds and hundreds of complicit church officials. But for now, can't church officials at least take some steps to safeguard innocent kids today from these men?

CONTACT
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566 9790 cell

Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP Founder and President (312) 399 4747 cell

Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP National Outreach Director (314) 862 7688