"Prolific, notorious" St. Louis predator priest passes
(For Immediate Release January 31, 2023)
A former St. Louis priest who admitted he violated dozens of boys and was serving a life sentence in prison for child sex crimes has passed away.
From 1981 to 1983, Fr. Romano Ferraro was at St. Joan of Arc parish in south St. Louis city. A man he molested as a child there committed suicide in 2006 after a long struggle with depression.
Fr. Ferraro also worked at Jewish Hospital, Barnes Hospital, and lived in Webster Groves at a now-shuttered church facility called The House of Affirmation (4 Joy Avenue).
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Ferraro_Romano_J.htm
Over his long career, the priest was in at least eight states including Washington DC, Massachusetts (Billerica), Virginia (Norfolk), Rhode Island (Newport), Maryland (Suitland), Florida (Key West), New Jersey (Ridgewood, Woodbridge, Middlesex, Colonia), New York (Brooklyn, Queens, Kings Park, Bushwick, Borough Park, Canarsie, Far Rockaway, Douglaston, Staten Island, Astoria, Long Island City, Bronx, Jamaica, West Islip, Commack, Park Slope). Fr. Ferraro was dishonorably discharged for child sexual abuse from the US Navy. (He had served in Viet Nam and the Philippines.)
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2004_01_21_Bryant_SuitClaims.htm
In 1986, he gained national notoriety for giving a sermon at which he said that there was no Santa Claus, no Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and no North Pole toy workshop.
His death was announced by Massachusetts authorities and reported by the Bergen NJ daily newspaper.
https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2023/01/31/romano-ferraro-sexual-misconduct-case-priest-dead-in-massachusetts/69835508007/
Fr. Ferraro's name is on the St. Louis archdiocese's list of 'credibly accused' child molesting clerics. Fr. Ferraro was defrocked in 2011.
He faced at least one civil lawsuit in St. Louis.
FOR MORE INFO: David Clohessy of SNAP, 314 566 9790, [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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