Media Statements

Another priest from the Diocese of Fresno has been suspended from ministry following allegations that he abused a minor.

We applaud Br. Justin Gilligan, not only for his courage to speak out and share publicly his experiences with Msgr. Craig Harrison, but also for his efforts to support the men – and their families – who have also come forward. His willingness to speak truth to power and stand up for other victims is inspiring. We hope that other survivors and whistleblowers will be encouraged by Br. Gilligan’s example and follow in his footsteps.

We are grateful that West Virginia Attorney General Morrisey is keeping the pressure up on the Wheeling-Charleston diocese by bringing new counts and evidence to his lawsuit. Informed communities are safer communities, and the more that is investigated, the more truth gets exposed.

For immediate release, May 20, 2019

We are grateful that Church officials from the Diocese of Fresno have the wisdom to recognize that past allegations against Msgr. Craig Harrison were likely improperly investigated, swept under the rug, or otherwise ignored, and are reviewing those allegations again. We are glad that current Church administrators are willing to admit that the old regime made mistakes and are making efforts to find survivors of the Monsignor today.

We are glad that the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has updated their list of priests publicly accused of abuse. We are disappointed, however, that they did so without notifying the public.

As a SNAP Leader in Philadelphia and one who works very closely with survivors of clergy sex abuse here in Pennsylvania, I am appalled at the remarks made on a social media platform of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference towards Ms. Carolyn Fortney. The comment lacked professionalism, public opinion etiquette, and good taste, as well the promoted Catholic principles. We stand in solidarity with Carolyn and all other survivors and advocates who have felt insulted or besmirched by the posting.

PUBLICLY ACCUSED SAN DIEGO ABUSIVE PRIESTS WHO ARE NOT 

INCLUDED ON THE OFFICIAL DIOCESAN ‘ACCUSED’ LIST (5/19)

--Fr. John Patrick Feeney, who was a priest of the Green Bay diocese and  stands accused of sexually abusing at least a dozen children during his career, during which he was assigned to 18 parishes. In 2004, he was convicted of child sex crimes and sentenced to 15 years prison.

His name appears on the ‘credibly accused’ lists in three dioceses: Green Bay, Las Vegas and Omaha. He was in the San Diego diocese in 1983 and in the Los Angeles archdiocese from 1990-2002.

http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Feeney_John_Patrick.htm

A support group for clergy abuse victims want a voice in compensation programs being set up by California Catholic officials.

We applaud Texas law enforcement officials for raiding the “secret archives” of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. We are glad that police and prosecutors are taking the issue of clergy abuse in Texas seriously and are not just relying on the promises of church officials.

For immediate Release: May 14, 2019

We are grateful to Bishop Robert Brennan for his public show of support for survivors of clergy abuse and for calling for civility and understanding in cases of clergy sex abuse. There is power in public statements from church leaders and we are glad that Bishop Brennan chose to use his in this way.