Media Statements

For immediate release: Monday, Oct. 17, 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])

The head of the Missouri National Guard's Sexual Assault Prevention program should be fired for saying that assault reports by Donald Trump's alleged victims "bore" her.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/tony-messenger/messenger-trump-s-sexual-assault-talk-bores-missouri-guard-s/article_38a5f81d-adc8-58e8-aea5-f2b2dd77fab2.html

For immediate release: Monday, Oct. 17, 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])

Cardinal Tim Dolan’s unilateral, top-down victim pay-off program has barely begun. Yet the man Dolan picked to head it is already insulting and blaming victims. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/opinion/victims-of-priests-abuse-face-a-choice.html

(PRWEB) October 13, 2016

Evidence Suggests Chancellor was Complicit or Negligent in Child Sexual Assault Case, Group Says

For immediate release, October 11, 2016

Statement by Laura Merleau-McGrady, suing Fr. Osang Idagbo

Once I began learning more of the stories of others who had similar experiences to mine, I realized that my spiritual and emotional suffering were not unique and I needed to do something to help others avoid falling into the same trap into which I fell.  So I am filing this lawsuit to add to the growing number of voices trying to bring to light the corrupt system in the Catholic Church that encourages, allows, and does nothing to stop priests from becoming predators.  

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, SNAP western regional director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected]

A San Diego priest, Fr. Jacob Betrand, has been criminally charged with sexual assault in Minnesota. He’s also been accused of paying his victim to keep her quiet. But what we find even more troubling is the fact that church officials in San Diego may have known about the allegations for at least four years and did nothing to alert Catholics of the risk.   

For immediate release: Friday, Oct. 7, 2016

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

Our hearts ache for the five kids and their families who have helped police and prosecutors pursue an accused child molesting cleric, Fr. Brian Lederer. They must be terribly distraught that he’s escaped prosecution on all charges.

For the safety of kids, we call on local police and prosecutors to use their ‘bully pulpits’ to prod others with information or suspicions about Fr. Lederer’s crimes to speak up now.

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/4130255-final-charge-dropped-against-hibbing-priest

Statement by David Clohessy of SNAP (314 566 9790, [email protected])

The Bible says the truth shall set you free. Dolan's scheme, however, conceals truth. No one will learn anything about any clerics who are concealing or have committed heinous child sex crimes. Even worse: no cleric who might commit or conceal child sex crimes will be deterred from doing so. Because Dolan's scheme is about dollars not disclosure. And disclosure is what protects kids, exposes criminals, deters wrongdoing and truly brings healing.    

For immediate release, October 6, 2016

Statement by Mary Caplan of New York City (Manhattan), former director of SNAP’s New York chapter

As a child, I was abused by a New Jersey priest who took me to New York City and abused me there. I’m very skeptical of Cardinal Dolan’s proposal. It seems like it’s straight out of the US bishops’ lobbying, legal defense and public relations playbook. 

Most of all, victims want to protect kids and deter cover ups by exposing corrupt clerics in court. Bishops oppose this. So when victims look like they may get their day in court, bishops feel pressure and take unilateral steps to pacify or pay them off, exploiting their depression and desperation over mounting medical bills, severe therapy needs and continuing personal pain.

For immediate release: Thursday, Oct. 6, 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])

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan is announcing a unilateral plan to compensate clergy sex abuse victims. It’s too little, too late and designed to mollify lawmakers and others who feel justice should be dispensed by objective parties – like judges and juries – instead of by self-serving Catholic officials who are concealing heinous crimes.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Timothy-Dolan-Archdiocese-of-New-York-Catholic-Church-Compensation-Abuse-Priest-Clergy-396154561.html

For immediate release: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 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])

We’re disappointed in the Vatican’s choice for Anchorage’s new bishop Paul D. Etienne of Cheyenne, Wyoming (replacing Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz).

Etienne has shown no leadership whatsoever in the church’s continuing child sex abuse and cover up crisis.

http://www.cathstan.org/Content/News/News/Article/Pope-names-successors-to-retiring-Alaska-archbishop-Arlington-bishop/2/2/7312

For years, Etienne has continued to honor a predatory bishop, Bishop Joseph Hart, against whom at least six child sex abuse lawsuits have settled, Hart’s name graces a children’s home in Torrington Wyoming.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2010_press_releases/021710_abuse_victims_challenge_new_top_wyoming_catholic_official.htm