Defrocked Pennsylvania Priest Went on to Abuse Again in Oregon
A priest, ousted for reportedly molesting a Pennsylvania boy, later repeatedly molested a young Oregon man according to a lengthy new investigation by the Associated Press. We call on law enforcement officials to use every possible method to prod anyone with information or suspicions about this abuser’s crimes to come forward. And we call on Catholic officials – especially in dioceses and states where he lived or worked (Greensburg PA, Pittsburgh PA, Topeka KS, Kansas City KS, Massachusetts, California, Virginia, Kentucky and Florida) - to do more to warn the public about him.
In 2002, Fr. Roger Sinclair was removed by the Greensburg diocese for allegedly abusing a teenager decades earlier. In 2017, he was arrested in Oregon for abusing young developmentally disabled Oregon man and “is now imprisoned for a crime that the lead investigator in the case says should have never been allowed to happen,” the AP reports.
“Like Sinclair, the majority of people listed as credibly accused (abusive clerics) were never criminally prosecuted for the abuse alleged when they were part of the church,” the AP reports. “That lack of criminal history has revealed a sizable gray area that state licensing boards and background check services are not designed to handle as former priests seek new employment, apply to be foster parents and live in communities unaware of their presence and their pasts.”
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, 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