Groups seek Vatican’s help re: Springfield IL bishop
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will announce that their group is filing with the Vatican (under a new and little-known church process) a lengthy formal complaint charging that Springfield's bishop is deliberately protecting predator priests and making it harder for victims to report abuse.
--use chalk to write on the sidewalk the names of proven, admitted &/or credibly accused child molesting clerics who are or were in the Springfield Diocese but are NOT on the official diocesan 'credibly accused' list, and
--ask Springfield's bishop to let victims them speak later this month at a diocese-wide assembly.
Thursday, Oct. 19 at 1:00 pm
On the sidewalk outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 524 E. Lawrence in downtown Springfield IL
--1) The two victims who are speaking for the first time are identifying predator priests who are listed on the official Springfield Diocese 'credibly accused' abusers list, which can be found here:
https://dio.org/promise/
--2) Earlier this year, Pope Francis permanently established the first-ever process through which formal complaints can be filed with the Vatican against bishops who hide or improperly deal with child sexual abuse. SNAP is submitting such a complaint charging that Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki deters victims from speaking up and continues to "hide and protect predators, endangering the vulnerable and re-victimizing the wounded."
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253939/pope-francis-decrees-permanent-vos-estis-lux-mundi-legislation-to-counter-abuse
--3) The victims are asking Paprocki, via letter, to let them speak about their suffering at a widely-promoted diocese-wide gathering later this month. The unusual event is expected to draw hundreds or thousands to the Springfield Convention Center. https://dio.org/revival-bos/
"Most Catholics have never heard from a clergy abuse survivor," said David Clohessy of SNAP. "It would be very healing and validating for any of us to be given this opportunity."
--4) SNAP charges that Paprocki refuses to make his official 'credibly accused' list thorough and accurate. At four news conferences in recent years, the group has prodded the bishop to add names of more than a dozen clerics who are or were in Springfield, have been deemed 'credibly accused' by Catholic officials elsewhere, but are NOT on his 'accused' list.
https://www.snapnetwork.org/victims_out_five_more_accused_springfield_priests_apr19
https://www.davidclohessy.com/blog/letter-to-bishop-paprocki?rq=paprocki
A more thorough list of proven, admitted &/or credibly accused Springfield clerics is here:
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-il-springfield/
NOTE - Copies of SNAP's complaint to the Vatican and letter to Paprocki will be available at the news conference and posted before that at SNAPnetwork.org - under Media Statements - &/or at davidclohessy.com.
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Mike McDonnell 267 261 0578, [email protected], Steve Stack 618 401 1512, [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
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