Contradicting Pope Francis, archbishop fights for secrecy
For immediate release: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Less than 48 hours after Pope Francis said “those who have covered up (abuse) are guilty,” the Philadelphia Inquirer has disclosed that Archbishop Charles Chaput is quietly working to keep secrets about a pedophile priest.
Francis made strong promises, including that “abuse cannot be kept secret any longer” and “all responsible will be held accountable."
Chaput apparently disagrees.
In a wrongful-death suit in Common Pleas Court,” Chaput's lawyers are trying to block discovery, the Inquirer reports. The case involves “the family of Sean McIlmail - a Willow Grove man who died of a drug overdose in 2013 while struggling to come to terms with his alleged victimization by a priest."
- pointed to the pope's calls for transparency in a motion (filed Monday) arguing against archdiocesan efforts to block discovery in an ongoing wrongful-death suit in Common Pleas Court,” reports the Inquirer.
In 2006, Pope Benedict, discussing the abuse and cover up crisis, said “It is important to establish the truth of what happened.”
“http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/2006-10-28-pope_x.htm
Chaput is contracting the expressed desires of two popes by his continued use of parishioners’ donations to keep abuse and cover ups covered up.
We hope Philly Catholics and citizens will pressure Chaput to reverse his hurtful, self-serving legal maneuvers and let the truth surface about clerics who committed and are concealing child sex crimes.
(Attorney Marci Hamilton is one of the McIlmail family's attorneys. )
(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])
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 3 comments
I agree with Gloria Sullivan’s comment. I agree with Mike Skiendzielewski’s comment also, especially the part about Chaput being arrogant and smug.
He’s a learned, mature and educated man and he most assuredly “knows” what must be done to protect our children now and in the future. He also “knows” what must be done in Harrisburg to give past victims a voice, legal access and redress (ALL CHILD VICTIMS here in the Commonwealth of PA, regardless of the venue of the alleged abuse…..public or private, religious or secular, in the home or in the community). It doesn’t work, it doesn’t sell, and it is unconvincing when a man such as Charles Chaput feigns ignorance on what steps needed to be taken to address the protection of ALL of our children.
He has NO RIGHT to stand in the way of the protection of other children in the Commonwealth of PA even if he wishes to defend his institution, leadership and its finances from legitimate legal action from victims and families that have suffered so terribly. Get out of Harrisburg, get out of Marsico’s office and LET THE PEOPLE have an opportunity to hear what the legislative proposals are about and what they can do for our children. How dare you, your leadership or anyone else, elected in Harrisburg or elsewhere, subvert and/or hijack our system of representative democracy.
The last several clergy abuse matters under YOUR watch, Archbishop Chaput, are clearly demonstrative of your style of leadership relative to the dangers to children in archdiocesan facilities throughout the region. Very little information re the allegations, risks in place in parishes for extended periods before notification of parents and families, and little if any information (facts, details, outcomes) regarding the disposition of the cases. What more can be done? Such a statement cannot be from ignorance, that we know. I believe it is from arrogance and a smugness that says “how dare the parishioners here in Philadelphia question my conduct, decision-making and actions in these issues?”
It is always appropriate to end a presentation on a positive note and theme. I want to “thank you” Archbishop Chaput for allowing many, many people in the region and beyond, both Catholic and non-Catholic, to come to know and love the special, unique, faithful, prayerful and compassionate nature of two very remarkable catholic women in this area. You know who they are; if not, then it is your loss that you do not know the depth, sincerity and beauty of their commitment to the Catholic faith. Yes, Archbishop, I am referring to Margie Winters and Andrea Vettori. I have read several of the statements and letters offered in the media by these two genuine Catholic women since the Waldron Mercy issue in the summertime. I just can’t remember reading any finer expressions of one’s Catholic faith, commitment, sensitivity, caring and compassion for those in our community, especially the children. Ms. Vettori’s letter to Pope Francis should be read by every parishioner in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, exemplifying how her faith and love of Our Lord literally fills her life and the work she does.
Archbishop Chaput, unless you have not noticed yet, you are no longer in Denver. Citizens in the Delaware Valley, Catholic and non-Catholic, will never rest until all of our children are protected in the best way possible from the risks and dangers of sexual predation as well as the highest level of legal access and redress for those who should be victimized by such evil and criminal acts. Quite simply, either join us in these efforts or please, or just get out of the way and stop using PARISHIONERS’ contributions and donations to fight against the protection of ALL the children of the Commonwealth of PA.