Diocese of Toledo Priest Permanently Suspended From Ministry; SNAP Reacts

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 2, 2022)

Four years after he was first accused of sexual abuse, the Diocese of Toledo announced that the Vatican has concluded that Fr. Nelson Beaver be removed from ‘priestly ministry. We applaud the brave survivors in this case and hope that their example encourages others who may still be suffering in silence to come forward, make a report, and start healing.

Fr. Nelson Beaver was first placed on administrative leave in October 2018 after one survivor came forward. Following that first accusation of sexual abuse, three other similar allegations came to light. While the Diocese of Toledo completed its own investigation in 2019, no action was taken until this weekend when the Vatican’s decision was finally announced to parishioners and the public. We are disappointed, but not surprised, that it took the Vatican years to make any decision on this case.

Now that Fr. Beaver has finally been remanded to a lifetime of prayers and penance, we feel it is incumbent upon church officials in Toledo should start seeking out other victims. We know from experience that if even if a few victims step forward in bravery to disclose the abuse they suffered, many more sit in a pain-filled silence. We believe it is likely that there are more victims out there.  Additionally, if it is revealed that accusations against Beaver included a cover-up or inaction from church officials, they too should be investigated and suspended from ministry.

Given the scientific reality of delayed disclosure and how this affects survivors of sexual abuse, it is not surprising to us that we are learning of more cases of sexual abuse from the late 1980s and 1990s. As time marches on, we are confident that more and more stories will be brought into the light as more and more survivors finally feel comfortable coming forward.

CONTACT: Contact: Claudia Vercellotti, SNAP Leader, Toledo, Ohio, (419-345-9291
[email protected]), Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager (267-261-0578, [email protected]), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)