Letter to the Salvatorians about Fr. Henn

Dear Fr. Andrzej Urbański,

We urge you to take action against the Reverend Joseph J. Henn. Specifically, we are asking you to

---warn the public, especially in Rome and Phoenix (but also in other places he may have worked),

---do more to find him and help law enforcement bring him to justice so that kids can be safer.

As you know, Fr. Henn is wanted on criminal charges in Arizona for sexually abusing boys in the 1980s. We believe there is an international warrant for Henn’s arrest and extradition to the US. He remains in hiding.

We strongly suspect you know where he is or can find out. And we know you can give his records to law enforcement and do more to warn citizens and church-goers about him. We implore you to do this immediately

According to the Dallas Morning News, in a written statement, your order claimed it could not persuade Henn to return to the US. But priests take vows of obedience to their superiors. It seems like you have never ordered him to return. And it seems he has not been defrocked, which means your order is likely continuing to pay him and provide him benefits like health insurance.

As a Salvatorian official, you are responsible for Henn. According to credible news accounts, he was in your order headquarters when the arrest warrant was issued and instead of assisting the authorities the Salvatorian order allowed him to avoid justice.

Actions, not words, matter. And when actions and words are in conflict, people pay attention to our actions. When parishioners, the public and church employees watch church officials do little or nothing to help bring fugitive priests to justice, they get a clear and disturbing message: "It's business-as-usual in the church. Endanger kids or hurt kids and we will look the other way or even perhaps lend you a hand."

Everything we know about predators says they will molest throughout their lifetime. Priests in Rome are given a great deal of trust and respect and w

We fear that no one is supervising Fr. Henn. We fear there may be others in Rome and Phoenix who he injured. We fear that he has access to children. We fear that he may be assaulting kids now.

It would be tragic – and inexcusable - if another child was harmed because of your recklessness and action. Please act now to safeguard children.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])

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