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Once-secret records show how S.F. Archdiocese handled priests accused of child sex abuse

A panel that reviews abuse allegations against priests returned more than half of accused clergy to ministerial duties, including a priest who faced five complaints, documents show. Margie O’Driscoll, who filed a lawsuit saying she was sexually abused during her senior year at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield in 1976, stands for a portrait in San Francisco on April 15, 2025. Yuri Avila/For the S.F. Chronicle The San Francisco Chronicle April 16, 2025 By Matthias Gafni, Susie Neilson   A secretive Archdiocese of San Francisco panel tasked with reviewing child sexual abuse allegations against priests has over the past decade returned more than half of accused clergy to their ministerial duties, including a priest who faced five abuse complaints, according to documents ordered released by a federal judge. The archdiocese has long been one of the most opaque Catholic branches in the country. But the once-confidential Independent Review Board minutes it released provide an unprecedented window into the powerful committee, while raising questions about whether its oversight — designed as a measure to prevent abuse by priests — truly protected its youngest parishioners. The church turned over the 175 pages of records on Tuesday after a federal bankruptcy judge ordered the release against the wishes of the archdiocese. “As a Catholic, Easter is the celebration of light and today, reading these documents, you see darkness and evil,” said Margie O’Driscoll, a 64-year-old San Francisco resident who has sued the archdiocese over allegations she was sexually abused by her former teacher at Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield. “Over and over again, you see the archdiocese protecting priests more than the children.”

SNAP Files Formal Complaints Against Tobin and Six Other US Cardinals as Part of “Conclave Watch”

South Orange, NJ — On Tuesday, April 15 at 11:00am, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in front of Seton Hall University (outside Ward Place Gate at the intersection of Ward Pl. and Seton Dr.) to deliver a critical announcement concerning the role of the U.S. Catholic cardinals in the next papal conclave.  The event will focus in particular on Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, his central role in the ongoing suppression of results of an abuse investigation commissioned by the university, and SNAP’s conclusion that no American cardinal is qualified to lead the Catholic Church due to their extensive histories of enabling and covering up clergy sexual abuse.

Accused Catholic priests in Alaska; SNAP worries about the safety of parishioners

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2025 SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has been alerted to the presence of two accused priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) at Immaculate Conception Church in the Diocese of Fairbanks.  The clerics are Frs. Gerardys Hauwert and Daniel Mentesana. Countless times in the past, Catholic officials have "cleared' clerics and put them back into parishes, only later to have to remove them again when additional accusations are reported. We are concerned that this history could repeat itself in Alaska.  Fr. Hauwert has been at Immaculate Conception since 2022. He was accused in a 2018 lawsuit of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman who went to him for help. The Diocese of San Jose agreed to a financial settlement with the woman.  Fr. Mentesana had his canonical faculties in the Archdiocese of Baltimore revoked in 2021. The clergyman was accused of an inappropriate relationship with an adult female that occurred outside of the Archdiocese. Fr. Mentesana was a former chaplain at the National Shrine Grotto and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, both located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Parish Bulletins from March 23 and March 30 have the cleric giving Lenten presentations at Immaculate Conception. Back in June of 2021, Pope Francis changed Catholic Church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by clergy. The new provisions became effective on December 8th of that year, yet, as the situation in Fairbanks illustrates, clergy who are accused of sexual misconduct with adult men and women appear to continue to be free to minister in Catholic parishes.

SNAP Responds to Death of Disgraced Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick: “This is not Justice”

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) responds today to the death of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, one of the most notorious and powerful abusers in the modern history of the Catholic Church. Let us be clear: McCarrick was never held accountable for his crimes. While he was eventually removed from public ministry, defrocked, and stripped of his red hat, he never stood trial for the vast harm he inflicted on children, young adults, seminarians, and others under his power. His death marks the end of his life—but it does not mark justice for his survivors.

MEDIA ADVISORY: SNAP Press event in Rome on Tuesday March 25

(Rome, Italy) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in Rome on Tuesday, March 25th at 11:00am to release a letter from clergy abuse survivors to Pope Francis. The letter conveys survivors’ urgent appeals to the pope in light of his declining health and the looming transition in church leadership. At the same time, SNAP will announce the first results of its new Conclave Watch initiative—a global vetting process examining the records of potential papal candidates on clergy sexual abuse and their commitment to zero tolerance. As part of the Conclave Watch initiative, survivors will present several complaints made under the pope’s Vos estis lux mundi decree against prominent cardinals in positions of oversight and leadership of the church’s management of clergy sexual abuse.

Clergy abuse survivors to hold press conference Tuesday to deliver survivors’ message to pope and announce vetting of future papal candidates

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in Rome on Tuesday, March 25th at 11:00am to release a letter from clergy abuse survivors to be delivered this weekend to Pope Francis. The letter conveys survivors’ urgent appeals to the pope in light of his declining health and the looming transition in church leadership.

Victims blast Peoria bishop on abuse

Victims blast Peoria bishop on abuse In new video, man who sued speaks up for first time His predator priest still lives in IL but diocese won’t say where Advocate challenges Tylka to “help put abusive cleric behind bars” SNAP: “Offering prayers won’t cut it. Bishop must act to safeguard kids” Roughly 50 Peoria area priests are now publicly accused child molesters WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will try to hand deliver a letter to Peoria’s Catholic bishop --blasting him for ‘reckless inaction’ in response to a lawsuit last week against a still-living but defrocked predator priest, --urging him to protect kids by ‘personally visiting each place the abuser worked and beg victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call the police,’ and --challenging local church employees - ‘no matter what the bishop does or doesn’t do’ - to ‘aggressively warn parents and the public about this predator.’ Also, in an impassioned new video, the victim who sued the cleric last week will discuss his shame, suicidal feelings, hopefulness and explain why he’s coming forward and taking action now. WHENMonday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m. WHEREOn the sidewalk outside the Peoria Catholic Diocese headquarters (a.k.a chancery office or Spalding Center), 492 NE. Madison Ave. in Peoria WHO Two-four clergy sex abuse victims including a Missouri man (also abused as a child by a priest) who is the former national director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

Take Action and Stop Child Sexual Abuse

If you see child sexual abuse, or have a reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse or your child has been sexually abused, call 911 or your local police immediately. 

If you suspect abuse, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit the Child Help Hotline. Trained crisis operators staff the lines 24/7 to answer your questions. If necessary, they will show you how to report in your local area.

Child pornography is a federal crime. If you see or suspect images that may be child pornography, report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTip Line

 

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