Three-four adults who were sexually abused as kids and belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
Wearing masks and socially distancing while holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
---announce that fifth accuser has stepped forward to naming a currently-serving local pastor as a child molester,
---provide copies of a new child sex abuse and cover-up lawsuit against the priest who is still a pastor now,
---beg St. Louis’ archbishop to immediately suspend the cleric, &
---beg Catholics to stop donating "until the archdiocese explains why they're violating church policy by never even suspending the cleric."
Thursday, Feb. 10 at 1:15 p.m.
On the sidewalk outside the “new” cathedral, 4431 Lindell Blvd, (corner of Newstead) in the Central West End in St. Louis
Three-four adults who were sexually abused as kids and belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
A new civil lawsuit charges that a currently-serving St. Louis pastor molested Christian Hornbeck, a boy at an orphanage here in the 1990s/2000s. It’s the fifth time Fr. Alex Anderson has been publicly accused of abuse. Yet he remains on the job in a parish today in the archdiocese.
And he has never even been suspended, SNAP says, despite a 20-year-old national Catholic church policy mandating such a move when abuse allegations surface.
“In the 30+ years we’ve followed this crisis, the case of Fr. Anderson is the most inexplicably and egregiously reckless one we’ve ever seen,” says SNAP’s David Clohessy.
In 2002, archdiocesan officials publicly admitted that Fr. Anderson was accused of abusing a boy. They claim the accuser recanted.
That same year, archdiocesan officials publicly revealed that Fr. Anderson had been accused of abusing a second boy.
With the approval of his church superiors, Fr. Anderson then sued the second boy for slander, insisting on a retraction. That boy then countersued.
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/27/us/accuser-of-priest-sued-for-defamation-responds-with-a-countersuit.html
In 2004, a third accuser reported his abuse by Fr. Anderson to a church panel. The panel deemed his report “not credible” with no public explanation of why.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2004_01_06/2004_01_17_Lhotka_ActivistsWill.htm
Last year, a fourth man, identified as John Doe, charged that Fr. Anderson molested him at the same orphanage, St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in south St. Louis city.
Since 2008, Fr. Anderson has headed St. Rose of Lima parish in DeSoto (636.337.2212, 636.337.2394)
He has also worked at St. Pius in St. Louis (1979), St. Blaise in Maryland Heights (1980), Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Louis (1980-1981), St. Simon's in Concord Village (1981-1983), St. Andrew's in Lemay (1988-1992), Assumption in Mattese (1993) and Sacred Heart in Eureka (2008). http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Anderson_Alexander_R.htm
As best SNAP can tell, each parish where Fr. Anderson worked has or had a parochial school.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/1999_03_02_Bryant_JuryHits_James_Gummersbach_4.htm
Accusers #4 and #5 (Hornbeck) are represented by attorney Rebecca Randles (816 510 2704 cell, 816 931 9901, [email protected])
Photos of Anderson are at BishopAccountability.org
Hornbeck is now married, employed, and lives in Georgia.
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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