AK--Anchorage archbishop had “terrible” record on abuse, group says

January 12, 2016

For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])

Before praising Alaska Archbishop Francis Hurley too much, Catholics and citizens should recall that he repeatedly put children in harm’s way, by quietly bringing a Michigan predator priest and a New Mexico predator bishop to work in Alaska while warning no one about their crimes.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2004_01_06/2004_02_18_Tsong_ReportSuggests.htm

And just five years ago, he advocated returning some child molesting clerics to ministry and relaxing the church’s “zero tolerance” policy.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2003_07_12/2003_11_16_Tsong_PriestsPast.htm

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2011_statements/061611_ak_bishop_tries_to_weaken_weak_policy_snap_responds.htm

He also reportedly ignored one abuse victim until that man went public with allegations against a pedophile priest.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2004_01_06/2004_02_26_Mauer_PrincipalsDeath.htm

Back in 2002, when US bishops first adopted a nationwide abuse policy, Hurley argued against it.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2002_06_15_Walsh_BishopsAdopt.htm

When someone passes away, we’re all tempted to gloss over that person’s shortcomings. But protecting predators like Msgr. Frank Murphy, Fr. Timothy Crowley, and Archbishop Robert Sanchez and shunning victims like Pat Podvin are not “shortcomings.” They are deliberately self-serving decisions that endangered children, hurt victims, betrayed Catholics and stonewalled police.

So heaping praise on Hurley now also heaps pain on those who were hurt and betrayed by his callous and irresponsible behavior.

Even worse, when we ignore wrongdoing, we encourage wrongdoing. And when we honor wrongdoers, we encourage similar wrongdoing. So praising Hurley now also basically encourages similar cover ups.

For the sake of justice, the healing of victims and the safety of children, we beg Catholic officials and parishioners to be honest about Hurley’s history of hiding and enabling child sex crimes. We beg them to not bury the archbishop will full honors and not ignore his full track record.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])

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AK--Anchorage archbishop had “terrible” record on abuse, group says http://www.snapnetwork.org/ak_anchorage_archbishop_had_terrible_record_on_abuse_group_says?recruiter_id=342
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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.’

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