Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

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Portland-area priest sent to India to face child sex abuse allegations

October 25, 2024

St. Pius X Catholic Church is located at 1280 NW Saltzman Road. Google Maps OregonLive.com October 24, 2024 By Zane Sparling A Catholic priest connected to a church and school in Cedar Mill has returned to India to face allegations of sexual misconduct involving children, according to correspondence obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive. The Rev. Joaquim Gracias of the Saint Pius X church was reportedly leaving to face the allegations in India, according to an email sent to members of the parish on June 27 and shared this week with the news organization. To read the entire article, go here.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles settles survivors’ lawsuits

October 16, 2024

For Immediate Release: October 16, 2024 Just today the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million to 1,353 victims of clergy sexual abuse who filed lawsuits in the civil window that closed in 2022. This is the largest settlement ever paid by the Church to date. Only a few lawsuits remain pending against the Archdiocese. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful to the survivors who stood up for their rights and for all victims by filing civil actions. While the settlement agreed to today is for a record amount, we know that no amount of money can ever truly compensate these brave men and women for the damage they suffered as children. However, we hope that these monies will bring some measure of healing to those who came forward. The Archdiocese is the largest in the United States, with over 4 million adherents who attend 300 churches. “The LA Times reported that over 300 perpetrators have been accused in public records of sexually abusing children, yet SNAP’s list of abusers associated with the Archdiocese has over 500 names,” said SNAP Board of Directors Treasurer Dan McNevin. “We fear and believe there are many more survivors out there who have not yet come forward. It is incumbent on Archbishop José H. Gomez to find a way to bring those lost souls in from the cold.” SNAP believes that this settlement is a good start, but that much work remains to be done. Parishioners and the public deserve the entire truth about who the accused were, as well as who enabled the perpetrators and covered up the crimes. We hope that as a part of the Archbishop’s atonement, that he pledges to release all clergy personnel files related to all these cases, updates his list of abusers, and announces enhanced safeguards to protect today’s children. CONTACT: Dan McNevin, SNAP Board of Directors Treasurer ([email protected], 415-341-6417), Joey Piscitelli, SNAP Northern California ([email protected], 925-262-3699), Dorothy Small, SNAP Sacramento Area Leader, ([email protected], 530-908-3676), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Director ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814-341-8386) (SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Catholic officials quietly admit priest is "credibly accused" molester

October 16, 2024

Apparently without notifying parents, parishioners or the public, Toledo Catholic officials quietly admitted this year that another of their priests molested at least one child. On Bishop Daniel Thomas' website, evidently with no word to current or former church-goers or his one-time co-workers, the Bishop deemed at least one child sexual abuse allegation against Fr. Michael G. Madden to be "substantiated" and added his name to the list of "credibly accused" Toledo area clerics. We believe this posting was made within the last two weeks. Fr. Madden died in 2007, after working in the diocese for more than 40 years.Toledo officials did not disclose how many abuse reports Fr. Madden faced. Nor did they reveal when his victims spoke up or what diocesan staffers did when that happened. Accordingly, it's unclear whether the priest was accused while he was alive and if so, whether law enforcement was contacted. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, cannot help but wonder how many other abusive clerics the Diocese might still be hiding, or which others the Diocese has acknowledged without public notification? The 2002 Dallas Charter promised parishioners and the public that Catholic bishops would be open and transparent about clergy sex crimes, but Bishop Thomas does not appear to be honoring this pledge.Fr. Madden was at nearly a dozen churches throughout northwest Ohio during his career, which began in 1962. He worked at St. Rose Catholic Parish in Lima, St. Wendelin Parish in Fostoria, St. Michael Parish in Kelley’s Island, Mother of Sorrow Parish in Put-in-Bay, St. Thomas Aquinas and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Martin and Bono, two parishes in Sandusky (Holy Angels Parish and Saints Peter and Paul Parish) and four parishes in Toledo (St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, Community of the Risen Christ, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and St. Catherine Parish. In addition, Fr. Madden worked at the St. Bernadine Home in Fremont, at Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan, at what was then the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, and with Retrouvaille (a program for couples with troubled marriages). A native of Sandusky and graduate of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Fr. Madden attended Saint Meinrad Seminary College in Indiana, St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati, and Xavier University in Cincinnati.We hope anyone who saw, suspected or suffered Fr. Madden's crimes will find some long overdue consolation in the fact that he's finally been publicly exposed as an abuser, even if this disclosure was apparently not done publicly. Despite the fact that Catholic officials have long claimed that they're now being transparent about their sex offending clerics, this does not seem to be what happened in Toledo this year. We also hope that anyone who may have been hurt by Fr. Madden will find the strength to tell trusted sources like friends, family, therapists or support groups like ours. CONTACT: Claudia Vercellotti, SNAP Toledo ([email protected], 419-345-9291), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Director ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Interim Executive Director ([email protected], 814- 341-8386) (SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Federal judge denies request to open sealed records in Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s bankruptcy; SNAP is saddened by the decision

October 03, 2024

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2024 This week, a federal judge denied the Wisconsin Attorney General’s request to review the Milwaukee Archdiocese’s sealed bankruptcy records as part of an investigation into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church . SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is saddened by this ruling, which in our view does not make the protection of children the priority. Attorney General Josh Kaul argued in his request that the sealed claims meant that some abusers could have gotten away with their crimes, and that some survivors never got the justice they deserved. We agree wholeheartedly with AG Kaul, and we hope that, if he is able, he will appeal this short-sighted ruling. In response to the decision, the attorney for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said that, “Judge [G. Michael] reasserts the bankruptcy court’s finding at the time that because the abuse happened so long ago in the 1950s-70s, there are no longer any public safety concerns." Sadly, it is simply not true that those who abuse boys and girls cease to become a threat as they age. In fact, child predators very rarely stop without outside intervention. This ruling may very well mean that today’s children could be harmed by some of these unidentified men and women. The Archdiocesan attorney also asserted that a review of the records “would have been devastating to abuse survivors who see this case as closed, and want their claim kept under seal by the court.” We are incredulous that the Catholic Church purports to speak on behalf of those victimized. Most, if not all, only suffered life-long injuries because of decisions made by that entity. In fact, in our experience, most survivors come forward because they do not want another child to experience what happened to them. We suspect that most, if not all, would welcome seeing their abusers held accountable for their crimes.

SNAP Press Event in Houma on Thursday

October 09, 2024

Victims charge Houma Catholic church is ‘reckless’ on abuse Group says diocese ‘is still hiding at least 4 local perpetrators’ Other dioceses post their names & say the allegations are ‘credible’ SNAP: “But Houma officials refuse, leaving kids at risk & victims wounded” Support group also alerts child victims to an unusual new legal opportunity New law means that anyone molested at any time by anyone can now sue ‘By coming forward, the wounded can protect the vulnerable,’ survivors say WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will --write on a sidewalk the names of four publicly accused clerics who are or were in the Houma-Thibodaux diocese but are largely ‘under the radar’ and are still being hidden by local church officials, and ---urge anyone “with information or suspicions about known or possible abusers” to call police, not church staff, contact SNAP and “protect others and start healing.” They will also urge Catholics to join with them in spreading awareness of an “unusual and ground-breaking child safety law” that “enables virtually any child sex abuse victim to sue, no matter how long ago the crime happened, so that the truth will be known about every bishop, priest, brother, nun, seminarian, or layperson who hurt kids.” WHEN Thursday, Oct. 10 at 11:15 a.m. WHERE On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of St. Francis, 500 Goode St. in Houma (985-876-6904) WHO Two child sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who for 30 years was the organization’s national director

SNAP Press Event in Baton Rouge on Wednesday

October 08, 2024

Abuse victims blast Baton Rouge bishop He’s hiding at least three ‘credibly accused’ abusive priests Other church officials say allegations against the men are ‘credible’ SNAP: “If church officials are hiding them, what else might they be hiding?” Support group also alerts child victims to unusual new legal opportunity New law means that anyone molested at any time by anyone can now sue ‘By coming forward, the wounded can protect the vulnerable,’ victims say WHAT Using sidewalk chalk, while holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will write on a sidewalk the names of three publicly accused child molesting clerics who are NOT on the Baton Rouge Catholic bishop’s ‘credibly accused’ list and thus remain largely ‘under the radar.’ They will also urge ---Catholics and others to “spread the word” about an unusual new Louisiana law that will make kids safer by enabling victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue those who committed or concealed the crimes - no matter how long ago they were violated, and ---those with information or suspicions about ANY other known or possible perpetrators to a) call police, not church staff, and b) contact SNAP. WHEN Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 2 PM WHERE On the sidewalk outside St. Joseph Cathedral, 401 Main Street (corner of 4th) in Baton Rouge WHO Two child sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who for 30 years was the organization’s national director

SNAP Press Event in Lafayette on Wednesday

October 08, 2024

New perpetrator priest lawsuit is filed Victims also blast local bishop over ‘continued secrecy’ SNAP: He’s hiding at least 3 ‘credibly accused’ abusive priests They’re still alive, so they may still be a threat to kids, group says Other church officials say charges against them are substantiated But their names are NOT on the official Lafayette diocese list Victims also urge greater awareness of new state child molestation law WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, abuse victims will announce and discuss a new child sexual abuse and cover up lawsuit against ‘the most notorious child molesting’ cleric in Louisiana history. Using chalk, they will also write on a sidewalk the names of several publicly accused pedophile priests who have spent time in the Lafayette area but are NOT on the Lafayette bishop’s ‘credibly accused’ list. And they will also “urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered ANY other known or possible abuse to a) call police, not church staff, and b) contact SNAP. WHEN Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 11:00 a.m. (NOTE: The group will hold a similar event in Baton Rouge later the same day, Wednesday, October 9 at 2 p.m.) WHERE On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the address for the Cathedral is 914 St. John Street, Lafayette, LA, press conference will be at 515 Cathedral. Call if you can't locate them: David, 314-566-9790 (Cathedral phone: 337-232-1322) WHO Two child sexual abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Missouri man who for 30 years was the organization’s national director

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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