Media Statements

For immediate release: Friday, July 8, 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])

Officials at a Kansas City church are bullying two girls – ages 11 year old and a 13 year old and their mom. Now, the church’s lawyer is trying to deny the bullying.

A mother and her daughters are suing Westside Family Church in Lenexa. The mom wants to continue protecting the privacy and recovery of her daughters who were sexually violated by a serial predator who helped with Vacation Bible School.

But Westside wants a judge to “out” them and prevent them from moving forward as “Jane Does.” For decades, however, judges in the US have let crime victims seek justice while safeguarding their anonymity. This is especially true when kids are involved.

The church’s motion, filed in Johnson County Court, starts with this phrase: “Westside requests that this Court deny the plaintiffs’ motion (for) a pseudonym.”

For immediate release: Thursday, July 7, 2016

Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747)  

We’re disappointed that Pope Francis has promoted Chicago Archbishop Blasé Cupich. He' no "reformer" when it comes to abuse and cover ups.

Here are two recent and problematic moves by Cupich regarding clergy sex crimes and cover ups:

http://www.snapnetwork.org/victims_blast_cupich_for_fr_mccormack_case_statement

http://www.snapnetwork.org/il_new_archbishop_ignores_victims

For immediate release: Wednesday, July 6, 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])

Of course accused serial child molester Victor Barnard is trying to exploit a legal loophole to evade responsibility for his horrific crimes. Why wouldn’t he? He’s seen hundreds or thousands of other clerics who’ve committed or concealing child sexual abuse take advantage of the same technicalities.

http://www.twincities.com/2016/07/06/brides-of-christ-cult-leader-victor-barnard-statute-of-limitations-girls-sexual-abuse/

For immediate release: Wednesday, July 6, 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 strongly suspect that the former Delbarton coach is telling the truth when he says that school officials retaliated against him for reporting suspected sex crimes and sexual misconduct by Fr. Luke Travers. Time and time again, Catholic priests and bishops have tried to punish those who speak up about abuse reports and rumors.

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2016/07/ex-coach_suing_delbarton_and_ex-headmaster.html

For immediate release: Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Statement by Mary Dispenza, volunteer Seattle director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (425-644-2468, [email protected])

The Atlantic Journal-Constitution (AJC) has conducted a sweeping investigation analyzing 100,000 disciplinary orders against doctors filed since 1999: doctors.AJC.com

It found “Of the 3,100 doctors that the newspaper identified as having been sanctioned for sexual misconduct, 2,400 of them had a violation involving a patient and half still have active medical licenses. These figure represents only a fraction of the actual accusations of sexual abuse by doctors because these cases are often dealt with in secrecy or ambiguity by state regulations and hospital officials.”

For immediate release: Wednesday, July 6, 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 victim of a notorious predator priest who spent time in DC and Maryland has settled with the predator’s Catholic supervisors for $4.5 million. We applaud this brave survivor for being brave enough to disclose his suffering, wise enough to seek justice in court and strong enough to endure a long process of litigation.

http://www.wtoc.com/story/32374974/catholic-diocese-of-savannah-to-pay-record-settlement-in-priest-abuse-case

For immediate release: Tuesday, July 5, 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 are grateful that a predatory prison chaplain was caught, pled guilty and has been sentenced. We hope others with information or suspicions about the crimes of Kenneth Dewitt will come forward and start healing. http://www.areawidenews.com/story/2319355.html

All too often predators seek positions like chaplain where they’ll have authority over and access to vulnerable individuals who are less likely to report crimes or be believed if they do.

For immediate release: Tuesday, July 5, 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])

Shame on the Penn State alums who put their idolatry of one coach over the safety of kids and the healing of victims. University officials should never restore the Paterno statue and these ex-players should move on.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/group-of-penn-state-lettermen-call-for-return-of-joe-paterno-statue-163950811.html

For immediate release: Tuesday, July 5,2016

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])

It’s heartbreaking that a fugitive child molesting New Jersey minister has apparently assaulted another youngster while his church colleagues do little or nothing to help law enforcement catch him or help warn other church members about him.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/07/fugitive_preachers_alleged_sex_abuse_rampage_conti.html

For immediate release: Friday, July 1, 2016

Statement by Judy Jones, SNAP associate Midwest director (636 422 2511,[email protected])

A former Catholic seminarian from Vermont who tried to arrange to sexually abuse babies was just sentenced, but the crux and cause of his crimes has basically been ignored - a secretive, self-serving clerical culture that gives troubled clerics repeated chances to hurt kids. 

http://www.cbs8.com/story/32354733/sentencing-for-man-who-tried-to-buy-toddler-in-tijuana