TX- Abusive minister is arrested
For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 13
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Authorities have charged a Houston pastor with sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.
This predator is away from kids largely because, according to one news account, “a church member who saw suspicious activity . . . continuously voiced her concerns.” We are grateful to this brave and compassionate person for speaking up.
We are also grateful to the girl’s parents who are apparently cooperating with law enforcement.
At the same time, we are disappointed in the predator’s wife who claims he has “repented.” Even if this is true, it’s irrelevant.
It’s heartbreaking to see churchgoers radically and recklessly misinterpret the concept of forgiveness in ways that endanger children. By all means, let’s forgive the drunk who causes a car accident that hurts kids. But let’s not hire him as a school bus driver. By all means, let’s forgive the adult who beats up a child. But let’s not put her in charge of a classroom.
By all means, let’s forgive a credibly abusing cleric. But let’s make sure he’s prosecuted, convicted and kept away from kids. Let’s not allow him back in the same kind of post he once exploited to assault a child – a church leadership role – just because he claims he’s “repented.”
We don’t knowingly put felons to work in a gun shop. We don’t knowingly put embezzlers to work in a bank. And we shouldn’t knowingly put a child molesting cleric in a position of power in a church, any church.
We encourage anyone with more information about this perpetrator to report it to authorities to help keep this man away from children. As seen through this witness’s actions, speaking up protects children. Staying quiet protects predators.
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [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
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