Media Statements

For immediate release: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

This week, Pope Francis “snubbed” Colorado’s former top Catholic official (who now heads the Philadelphia Archdiocese). While we may disagree with the pontiff’s reasons, we are grateful that Philly Archbishop Charles Chaput has been given no further honors or recognition or power in the church hierarchy.

Widely respected Catholic journalist David Gibson of Religion News Service writes that Pope Francis’ decision to promote an Indiana archbishop to become a cardinal and head the much-larger Newark archdiocese “was also viewed by church observers as something of a snub to Chaput. Philadelphia’s five previous archbishops, going back nearly a century, had all been made cardinals.

http://religionnews.com/2016/11/07/pope-francis-gives-n-j-its-first-cardinal-and-ups-the-ante-on-church-reform/

For immediate release: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016

For more information: David Clohessy 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected]

Victims oppose Yakima bishop’s bid for national office

SNAP to prelate: “You shouldn’t even be on child sex abuse panel 

The world’s largest group of clergy sex abuse victims wants Yakima’s top Catholic official to withdraw from his bid to head a national church abuse panel next week and instead focus on “protecting the vulnerable and healing the wounded” in Washington. 

http://cny.org/stories/US-Bishops-to-Elect-Officers-Hear-Task-Force-Report-Vote-on-Action-Plan,14653

For immediate release: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected] )

A group of nuns is refusing to admit that it ran a New York orphanage where a man says he was both sexually and physically abused as a child. We call on these nuns to stop ducking and dodging and start helping this victim. If they continue to stonewall, we call on Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan to insist that they step up, “come clean” and help this struggling survivor.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/s-church-sex-abuse-victim-feels-pain-article-1.2861359 

For  immediate release, November 9, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

Catholic officials now admit that a Kansas priest engaged in sexual misconduct. But that’s not enough.

http://www.kansascity.com/living/religion/article113346578.html

For immediate release: Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected] )

A Philadelphia-based group of nuns is refusing to admit that it ran an orphanage where a man says he was both sexually and physically abused as a child. We call on these nuns to stop ducking and dodging and start helping this victim. If they continue to stonewall, we call on Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan to insist that they step up, “come clean” and help this struggling survivor.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/s-church-sex-abuse-victim-feels-pain-article-1.2861359 

For immediate release, November 8, 2016

For immediate release, November 8, 2016

Statement by Joelle Casteix, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), (949) 322-7434, [email protected]

The second-in-command of a Connecticut-based scandal-plagued religious group has been accused of child sexual abuse in a local civil lawsuit filed last week.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/06/did-second-most-powerful-man-at-top-catholic-order-sexually-abuse-teenage-boy.html

For immediate release: Monday, Nov. 7, 2016

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

There are 50 publicly accused Newark predator priests. Warning parishioners and the public about them – and keeping kids away from them – should be the top priority of newly-appointed Cardinal Joseph Tobin.

Retiring Newark Archbishop John Myers has been among the very most reckless, callous and deceptive Catholic officials in the US. As recently as three years ago, he withheld information from prosecutors about a predator. 

http://www.northjersey.com/news/213290161_Former_Wyckoff_priest_s_lawyer_seeks_hearing_on_prosecutor_s_charges_for_priest_seeks_evidence_hearing.html?page=all

For immediate release: Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

There must be serious penalties for those who ignore or enable child sex crimes, so the NCAA is right to fine Penn State for the complicity of school officials in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/feds-investigating-sandusky-fine-penn-state-a-record-dollar24m/ar-AAjRp3h?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=UP97DHP

For immediate release: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

A gang rape has happened each of the last four years at Baylor University in Texas. On a new website, the school’s president pledges to be “more transparent” about sexual violence on campus. But we’re highly skeptical.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-sn-baylor-site-20161102-story.html

http://www.wsj.com/articles/baylor-details-horrifying-alleged-sexual-assaults-by-football-players-1477681988