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) 

Two predator priests just 'outed' at SLU
SNAP writes names of 12+ accused clerics on sidewalk
University refuses to reveal & post a list of abusers, group says
SNAP will leaflet students warning of other accused SLU molesters
Group asks SLU to do "real outreach" to possible victims, witnesses
WHAT: Handing out leaflets and holding signs, clergy abuse victims will warn St. Louis University students and staff about 
--two credibly accused abusers who were 'outed' just days ago, and
--a seminarian who allegedly raped, assaulted, and spread defamatory rumors about a young man in 2019. The accused now attends SLU and faces a recently filed civil lawsuit.
They will also
--use chalk to write names of a dozen or more predator priests who worked or lived at the school on the sidewalk, and 
--urge SLU officials to post on their website the names of credibly accused child molesting clerics (like most dioceses and many Catholic institutions do) and actively help law enforcement by aggressively seeking other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers in the most recent case.
WHEN: 
Monday, Feb. 13, at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: 
On the sidewalk in the 200 block of North Grand near St. Francis Xavier 'College' Church  (on the campus of St. Louis University) in St. Louis MO
WHO: 
Four-six members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a St. Louis man who is the group's former longtime national director.
WHY: 
Late Friday, St. Louis University disclosed that two priests who worked there have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse. One of them, Fr. David V. Meconi, was at SLU as recently as 2021. He directed the university's Catholic Studies center, and allegedly abused between 2015-2016.
The other is Fr. Daniel Campbell (deceased), a faculty member in the late 1950s.
SNAP wants the university to provide many more details about these and other proven, admitted or credibly accused clerics who are or were at SLU. The group also wants SLU president Fred Pestello and his staff to aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or misdeeds by Fr. Merconi. Since his alleged wrongdoing was recent, he might be prosecuted and kept away from other vulnerable people, SNAP believes.
In recent years, SNAP members handed out leaflets on the SLU campus prodding university officials to post on their website the names of credibly accused child molesting clerics (like the archdiocese does). Their leaflets named these priests who have been publicly accused of abuse and have lived or worked at SLU. (Everyone has been 'outed' and deemed 'credibly accused' of abuse by church or secular authorities and written about in mainstream media sources.)
They are Fr. Walter P. Buetzler, Fr. David C Bayne, Fr. Franklyn W. Becker, Fr. Edward F. Beutner, Fr. Floyd A. Brey, Fr. Vincent W. Bryce, Fr. John J. “Jack” Campbell, Fr. James A. Condon, Fr. Juan Carlos Duran, Fr. Paul A. Frey, Fr. Chester E. Gaiter, Fr. James F. Gates, Fr. John Harrington, Fr. Gerhardt B. Lehkmuhl, Fr. Jerold W. Lindner, Fr. Eugene Maio, Fr. Charles H. Miller, Fr. John N. Morfin, Fr. James Glenn Murray, Fr. Thomas J. Naughton, Fr. James V. O’Connor, Fr. George M. Pieper, Fr. John Slowey, Br. Richard H. Witzofsky,  seminarian Francis J. Kegel and former SLU president Daniel O’Connell (who was sued by two former women who say he assaulted them when they were young, vulnerable students).
SNAP feels that for the safety of innocent kids and vulnerable adult, these names should be permanently and prominently posted on the SLU website.
NOTE: Last year, SNAP warned the SLU community about a credibly accused abusive seminarian from Tennessee who is now a SLU student. For details, see The Pillar or these links: https://www.snapnetwork.org/slu_student_accused_of_abuse_stika_apr22
CONTACT
David Clohessy, SNAP Leader Missouri (314-566-9790, [email protected])

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:

 

  1. 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.
  2. Expose corruption within the DRC judicial system that has benefitted church officials and perpetrators at the expense of the abused; 
  3. 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.


SNAP Network is a GuideStar Gold Participant