SNAP Media Events
Abuse victims to leaflet Catholic church Sat 6/17 @ 3pm
(For Immediate Release June 16, 2023)
Abuse victims to leaflet Catholic church
They ask parishioners to help prod KC bishop
‘He still refuses to disclose all molesters’ SNAP says
Group names 2 local predators ‘never outed here before’
They have been deemed ‘credibly accused’ of abuse elsewhere
Diocese won’t name two other priests, but paid their victims $377,000
WHAT
As parishioners leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hand out fliers urging parishioners to insist that their bishop disclose the names of all predator priests who are or were in the KC MO diocese, including
--two who have never been publicly accused of abuse in the KC area before (but have been deemed ‘credibly accused’ abusers in other Catholic dioceses), and
--two who have been sued for molesting in KC MO (and cases settled for $277,000 and $60,000)
None of the four are on the KC MO diocese’s list of alleged predators even though it’s documented that they lived and/or worked in the KC MO diocese.
The leaflets also beg church-goers to ask their loved ones if they were hurt by any of the now 40+ publicly accused KC MO predator priests (according to a respected, online archive called BishopAccountability.org)
WHEN
Saturday, June 17 at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the KC Catholic diocese’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 416. W. 12th Street in downtown Kansas City MO
WHO
Three-four members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a St. Louis man who is the organization’s former executive director (now Missouri volunteer director)
WHY
SNAP has found four more credibly accused child molesting clerics who live or lived in the KC MO diocese and should be - but are NOT - on the KC MO diocese’s list of alleged predators.
Two of them - Msgr. Martin Henry Froeschl and Fr. Alexander B. (“Sandy”) Sinclair – have been sued for molesting KC MO kids. Cases against them have settled for a total of $337,000. Yet they are NOT on the KC MO list.
Two others - Fr. James V. McCormick and Fr. Lawrence C. Schierhoff - are on church ‘credibly accused’ lists in other dioceses - in St. Louis, Jeff City and South Dakota) but NOT on the KC MO list.
(McCormick and Schierhoff are being ‘outed’ here for the first time. Both clerics are virtually unknown in KC MO. Previously, SNAP has urged KC MO church officials to add Froeschel and Sinclair.)
Over the past 2-3 years, SNAP has criticized KC MO Bishop James Johnston before for refusing to put all child molesting clerics (priests, nuns, bishops, seminarians, monks, brothers) on his diocesan ‘credibly accused’ list.
For the most part, Johnston has ignored SNAP’s requests, even though he chairs the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Youth Protection
https://www.usccb.org/committees/protection-children-young-people/committee#tab--committee-members
Bishops elsewhere have, however, responded to several such requests by SNAP, adding names of credibly accused child molesting clerics.
DETAILS
According to BishopAccountability.org, an authoritative and respected online archive of the church’s abuse crisis, there are 41 publicly accused KC MO predator priests, although the KC MO diocese lists only 38 such priests.
SNAP says Bishop Johnston should list, but refuses to list, more than 20 proven, admitted, or credibly accused child molesting clerics who are or were in his diocese.
https://www.bishop-accountability.org/dioceses/usa-mo-kansas-city-st-joseph/
https://kcsjcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/Substantiated.08012022.Hartwayupdate.PUBLISHED.pdf
CONTACT
David Clohessy, SNAP Leader Missouri (314-566-9790, [email protected]) Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager (267-261-0578 ([email protected])
SNAP to hold Sidewalk Press Conference in Baltimore
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will speak about the new revelations that
identify many of the redactions that were made in the Attorney Genera’s report on the Child Sexual
Abuse in the Archdiocese of Maryland
https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2022/111722.pdf
https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/religion/john-krzyanski-joseph-omeara-samuel-
lupico-catholic-sex-abuse-report-NTWFDCHPJBHBVPU6OIGNRJTTG4/
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bs-md-church-officials-sexual-abuse-redacted-
20230504-pngpc2eym5ehjjocmgttwg3o4q-story.html
WHAT: A sidewalk news conference, abuse survivors and advocates who are part of SNAP, the Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priests, will speak about the information revealed by the two major
newspapers in Baltimore. We know that several of the officials were completely complicit in
covering up and enabling abusers.
WHEN: Monday, May 8th at 11:30 am
WHERE: In front of the Archdiocese of Baltimore office, 320 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201
WHO: 7-10 abuse survivors and advocates, including the Maryland SNAP Leader David Lorenz, who
wants to see church officials remove any and all priests who knowingly mislead victims or enabled
abusers to continue harming children by their actions or lack of action.
SNAP writes abusers names on sidewalk
SNAP writes abusers names on sidewalk
Victims group wants five more predators exposed
Group says they should be listed on church website
Four of them are alive; three likely still live in this area
SNAP blasts bishop: “Your secrecy is endangering kids”
Diocese now has almost 50 publicly accused clergy molesters
Victim Survivors and Advocates Applaud Maryland Attorney General Report and Passage of Child Victims Act
(Media Advisory for April 7, 2023)
- Victims applaud the release of the Maryland Attorney General Report
- They also announce the passage of the Child Victim’s Act (CVA)
- Demand that the Church add the 30 new names in the AG to their list and stop using hair-splitting distinctions to avoid being transparent
- Demand that the Church provide the assignment history, last known location, and employment of perpetrators listed in the AG report
- Demand that the Church stop fighting the constitutionality of the CVA
WHAT: Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will announce the passage of the CVA along with the release of the scathing Attorney General report. ,
-- Demand that the Archdiocese explain their recklessness and continued secrecy in not listing the 30 newly named perpetrators.
-- Celebrate the passage of the CVA and look forward to having it signed by the Governor of Maryland.
-- Demand that the Archdiocese of Baltimore provides work and assignment history for each of the perps listed in the report, their last known location as well as whether they know if the perp is still living.
-- Demand that the dioceses of Washington DC and Wilmington, DE publicly release the information that they have given to the AG.
WHEN: Friday, April 7th at 11:00 AM.
RALLY FOR TEXAS STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM
(Media Advisory For February 15, 2023)
SURVIVORS GATHER AT THE CAPITOL TO RALLY FOR TEXAS STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS REFORM
HB206 and SB751 ELIMINATE STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS (SOLs) FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEX ABUSE
What: A coalition of Texas survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) will gather in solidarity at the Capitol to educate legislators and their constituents about the need for SOL reform, giving voice to all survivors in the name of justice and healing.
When: Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 9:00 am to 11:00
Where: South Steps of the Capitol, 1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.
Who: Texas leaders and members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests SNAP); President and members of Survivors of Child Sex Abuse (SCSA); President and members of SOSChildAbuse.org, SexAbuseRegistry, SurvivingScouting.org; Texas CSA survivors and their supporters and advocates. Speakers will include Rep. Ann Johnson, Texas House Member Dist. 134; Dr. Amy Kemter, San Antonio Psychotherapist who works with abuse survivors; Michael Johnson, 28-year veteran, retired law enforcement child sexual abuse investigator, and former director of Youth Protection for the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America and Whistleblower; Mr. Joe Alarcon, Kanakuk Youth Camp Survivor Advocate; as well as several child sex abuse survivors.
Why: HB 206,1 filed by Rep. Ann Johnson, and SB 751,2 filed by Senator Pete Flores, permanently eliminate the civil statutes of limitations (SOL) allowing survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA) to take legal action against predators, and the institutions who enabled them. It is retroactive, reviving previously expired SOLs. These SOL bills protect our community by exposing hidden predators. They empower survivors--no matter how long ago their abuse occurred--to speak out and get the healing support they need.
Victims to leaflet at SLU; Two new predator priests outed
(For Release February 13, 2023)
Survivors and Advocates in DRC call for Zero Tolerance for Clergy Sex Abuse
MEDIA ALERT (page 4 en français)
[For Immediate Release, January 25, 2023; http://bit.ly/3vSuVnq ]
Current Clergy Sex Abuse Cases in DRC Exposed
Historic Press Conference to be held on Eve of Pope’s visit to the DRC on Clergy Sex Abuse
Clergy sex abuse victims in Kinshasa call on Pope to help
Survivors and Advocates in DRC call for Zero Tolerance for Clergy Sex Abuse
For the first time in Africa, international activists will join with Congolese survivors and advocates in a press conference to highlight the failure of the Catholic Church to protect survivors and whistleblowers.
Pope Francis will visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo the week of January 31 to February 3, 2023. On Monday January 30, survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their advocates from the Congo, U.S. and Europe will be in Kinshasa to hold a press conference in order to:
- Share information regarding a current case of clergy sex abuse and cover-up in the DRC, including details on how the victim and her family have been silenced and the harm done to her advocates. The victim and a witness are scheduled to testify by Zoom during the press conference.
- Expose corruption within the DRC judicial system that has benefitted church officials and perpetrators at the expense of the abused;
- Insist Pope Francis enforce his recently enacted "apostolic letter" by immediately removing and sanctioning abusive priests and their bishop enablers to send an important message to the continent of Africa that there is zero tolerance for clergy sex abuse and coverup.
Survivors and Advocates urge others to step forward as New California law has opened a window to justice for those sexually assaulted as adults
Media Advisory
(For Immediate Release January 25, 2023)
New California law has opened a window to justice for those sexually assaulted as adults
Survivors and advocates will gather at the State Capitol today to call attention to AB 2777
Whether the abuse occurred in a religious institution or elsewhere, SNAP urges victims to take advantage of this opportunity
WHAT: At a sidewalk news conference, abuse survivors and advocates who are part of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, will gather to draw public attention to The Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act (Assembly Bill 2777), which went into effect on January 1st. SNAP will urge those who were the victims of sexual assault as adults to consider filing civil lawsuits for damages against those who abused them and the institutions that covered up for the perpetrators.
WHEN: January 26, 2023, at 1 PM
WHERE: California State Capitol, 1315 10th St (between L and N Streets), Sacramento. We will gather on the lawn to the left of the steps.