Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

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Louisiana diocese prepares to file for bankruptcy over clergy abuse claims

October 10, 2024

Alexandria diocese plans to file ‘prearranged chapter 11’ after settlement with victims to avoid ‘lengthy delays’ The Guardian Ramon Antonio Vargas Thu 10 Oct 2024 A Roman Catholic diocese in north-west Louisiana appears ready to join 40 other organizations of its kind in the US by filing for federal bankruptcy protection as the church’s worldwide clergy molestation scandal continues reverberating, according to a letter obtained by the Guardian. But the diocese in question – that of Alexandria, Louisiana – is first aiming to reach a global settlement with those who already have pending clergy abuse claims demanding damages from the institution before it then files what it called a “prearranged chapter 11” financial reorganization. As the letter authored by local attorneys for the Alexandria church put it, the purpose of the strategy is to avoid “the lengthy delays and huge professional fees” incurred by the May 2020 bankruptcy filed by Louisiana’s archdiocese of New Orleans. .... The Alexandria diocese in 2019 released a list of 27 clergymen who were faced with substantial allegations of sexual abuse of children or misconduct dating back to the 1940s. A few more names have since been added to the roster, bringing the number of clergymen identified to more than 30. Yet the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (Snap) said in a statement Monday, in part, that the updated list omits at least two late clergymen who have been publicly labeled as “credibly accused” by Catholic officials elsewhere: Joseph Pellettieri (New Orleans and Baton Rouge) and Brian Highfill (New Orleans and Las Vegas). Snap’s statement said that two other late clergymen who were criminally investigated for alleged child sexual abuse are not on any church credibly accused lists but merit being named in Alexandria’s roster. The investigation into one of those clergymen – Jaime Medina-Cruz – ended without action after he was found dead in a hotel room in 2013, and the case involving the other – Donald McCarthy – was dismissed when authorities determined too much time had passed to file charges against him, Snap said. .... To read the complete article, go here.

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.

Vermont Catholic bishop filed for bankruptcy on Monday; SNAP concerned

October 02, 2024

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2024 On Monday, the Catholic bishop of Vermont filed for bankruptcy in the face of 31 lawsuits for child sexual abuse. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is concerned that by employing this legal tactic, the Diocese will avoid accountability for past actions that resulted in life-long injuries to innocent boys and girls. In fact, we suspect that the real motive behind the decision is to prevent disclosures about what happened to these brave survivors as children, as well as the knowledge that the Diocese could have prevented that harm in most, if not all, the cases. As the cherry on top for Bishop McDermott, a bankruptcy will also mean that the recoveries to the victims will be severely reduced.

Diocese of Rockville Centre reaches settlement with sexual abuse survivors; SNAP leaders weigh in

October 02, 2024

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2024 Last week the Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre reached a settlement with 600 survivors of child sexual abuse. The Diocese agreed to pay $320 million in compensation. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful to the survivors who stood up for their rights and for all victims. We hope that this process will bring some measure of healing those who came forward. The bankruptcy case was begun in 2020 and it has taken 4 years to reach an agreement. Rockville Centre initially only offered $200 million, which was rejected by the survivors. In 2004, the Diocese was among the 10 largest in the United States. However, it is important to note that, while the settlement is justly deserved by those who have suffered decades in silence, no amount of money can make up for the lifetime of trauma that results from child sexual abuse. Moreover, in the grand scheme of things, the money is but a drop in the bucket given the great wealth of the Catholic Church. Still, we suspect that after all the time between the filing of their lawsuits and the conclusion of the bankruptcy, most will simply be happy that their claims are finally resolved and try to move forward. New York SNAP Leader Mary McKenna puts it this way, “The amount of money each survivor will receive is always less than they deserve. The awards in the Rockville Centre bishop’s reconciliation program run by Cardinal Timothy Dolan were similar, and survivors got that money right away. Moreover, it was reported in Newsday yesterday that the Bay Shore school district settled with 5 victims: one received $4.5 million and the other 4 $3.5 million each!!! The Catholic Church got off easy!!! I just hope this little bit of money will help some survivors get what they need. But I can’t help but feel that overall the Catholic Church has failed victims once again.” In one bright spot in the whole situation, Long Island SNAP Leader Janet Klinger noted that for years prior to the bankruptcy she fought for the release of a list of accused priests in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, but without success. However, the names were finally released in 2021 as part of the federal proceedings. We hope that the Diocese will continue to update their list as new reports of abuse are made to them. However, we know that no institution can, or should, police itself. We hope that law enforcement and legislators in New York are looking long and hard to find new pathways to provide justice for survivors and to prevent more children from being harmed in the future. It seems to us that one critical step is to change the law to ensure that covering up and enabling abuse is itself prosecuted as a serious crime. Those who fail to protect innocent boys and girls, like the perpetrators, should also face time behind bars.

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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