Allegations Against Jesuit Priest Found Credible, SNAP Calls for Outreach
Allegations of sexual abuse against a former Missoula pastor have been found credible, and now SNAP is calling for Catholic officials in every location where he lived or worked to update their lists to include his name.
According to Jesuit West leaders, they have received credible allegations that Rev. Richard D. (Rich) Perry abused a minor from 1979 to 1983 while he worked in Seattle at Seattle Preparatory College. It seems notable to us that Rev. Perry was sent on a one-year sabbatical in 1979, the first year that the reported abuse occurred. It is hard to believe that this timing is a coincidence and we worry that Rev. Perry may have been sent away because Catholic officials were informed of his abuse far earlier than they are reporting today.
It is especially concerning that Rev. Perry was elevated to the position of superior of the Ravalli Jesuit Community in Missoula, Montana, years after the abuse occurred in Seattle. He worked in that position of honor and authority for four years before a woman reported in 2019 that he had “inappropriate contact” with her. Given the timeframe of the allegations against Rev. Perry, the fact that at least two women have come forward, and because data shows that the majority of abusers have multiple victims, we believe that it is very probable that there are other women who have been hurt by this priest and have remained silent.
Jesuit West leaders have already added Rev. Perry’s name and assignment history to their list of accused clerics, and now we call on Catholic officials in every location where Rev. Perry worked to update their own lists to include his name. They should also share this information with their parish community, urging others who may have been hurt by him to come forward and make a report to police and prosecutors.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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
Showing 2 comments
Rev. Joseph Carver, S.J. was apparently the Jesuit Superior of the Jesuit Community in Missoula in 2013.
It appears that the Jesuit Order was responsible for the St. Francis Xavier Church in Missoula.