AZ--Newly-disclosed predator priest is now in Arizona

For immediate release: Wednesday, Feb. 11

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

A just “outed” predator priest who reportedly molested at least one child in Minnesota is now living in Phoenix, according to Catholic officials.

http://safe-environment.archspm.org/accountability/clergy-disclosures/james-robert-murphy/   

We strongly urge Phoenix Catholic officials to aggressively warn parents, police, prosecutors and the public about John Robert Murphy. We urge Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmstead to use parish bulletins, church websites and pulpit announcements to reach out to anyone in Arizona who may have seen, suspected or suffered Murphy’s crimes.

It’s possible he molested a child just last night. And it’s possible that he could be prosecuted, convicted and kept away from kids.

Murphy has allegedly been “permanently removed from ministry.” But that doesn’t absolve Catholic officials from helping to protect others from him. Bishops recruited, ordained, hired, trained, supervised and shielded predators like Murphy. So they have an obligation to safeguard vulnerable  kids from him even now.

We hope anyone with information or suspicions about Murphy will call police, expose wrongdoers, protect others, and deter cover ups. Silence and inaction only helps those who commit and conceal child sex crimes.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We were founded in 1988 and have 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, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, [email protected], Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, [email protected]

James Robert Murphy

Date of birth: 7/7/1937

Date of ordination: 1977

Murphy’s assignment history:

Assistant Pastor, St. Raphael, Crystal, 1977-1981

Assistant Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Faribault, 1981-1983

Pastor, St. Lawrence, Faribault, 1983-1989

Volunteer Chaplain, Bethlehem Academy, Faribault, 1981-1989

Diocese or religious order: Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Date permanently removed from ministry: 1990

Current location: Phoenix, AZ

Current status: Permanently removed from ministry

Date the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis posted this individual’s name on a list of those with claims of substantiated abuse against them: February 11, 2015   


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