Media Statements

For immediate release: Friday, April 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])

The Stillwater-based Wrestling Hall of Fame must now remove all references to and honors of Dennis Hastert, the ex-House speaker. Continuing to treat Hastert as a role model or even a celebrity hurts victims of sexual violence and deters them from reporting predators.

Hastert has pled guilty to financial misdeeds. He is accused of lying to law enforcement and molested at least four boys. And this week, he’s minimizing his wrong-doing with a vague and self-serving “apology” while refusing to “come clean” about how widespread and long-standing his crimes.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/opinion/ct-abn-crosby-hastert-st-0408-20160408-column.html

http://nwhof.org/stillwater/hall-of-fame/#type=hof&honoree=327

Months ago, a number of other institutions removed honors and mentions of Hastert:

http://www.snapnetwork.org/dc_victims_call_for_removal_of_hastert_s_portrait_in_congress

For immediate release: Thursday, April 7, 2016

Massage therapist attacks his accuser

He was sued for assaulting a customer 

An Orlando massage is firing back against allegations that he sexually assaulted a client. Victims of sexual assault reacted with horror to his hurtful and untruthful remarks.

In January, Frederick Dost was named as the perpetrator of an attack on a female customer in a lawsuit filed against a Massage Envy spa. The victim says she also reported her attack to law enforcement, the Florida Department of Health and the Massage Envy franchise. Dost’s employment was subsequently terminated.

https://www.pathtojustice.com/lawsuit-filed-against-massage-envy-for-alleged-sexual-abuse-by-orlando-massage-therapist/

http://www.wesh.com/news/woman-accuses-former-massage-envy-masseur-of-sexual-battery/37684760

For immediate release: Thursday, April 7, 2016

Statement by 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 believe prison time for Dennis Hastert is appropriate and his so-called ‘apology’ is not.

A criminal who breaks the law once often deserves leniency. A young person who impulsively shoplifts on a dare or vandalizes once when drunk should be given a break, especially if they break the law once.

But Hastert did wrong in two ways: he sexually assaulted kids and he illegally moved hush money. We suspect he broke the law dozens of times, repeatedly using his power and status as a trusted teacher and coach to sexually violate youngsters. 

For immediate release: Wednesday, April 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 credibly accused Ohio predator priest has passed away. Now, we beg Bishop Frederick Campbell to aggressively seek out anyone else who may have been hurt by him” by using church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements so that the wounded may be consoled and learn that they aren’t alone.

And Campbell should explain why he basically kept silent for more than three months, despite his repeated pledges to be “open and transparent” about clergy sex crimes. Had Campbell done what many bishops do, and told the public about this predator priest’s passing, he might have brought comfort to some of the cleric’s victims.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dispatch/obituary.aspx?pid=177116194

For immediate release: Wednesday, April 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’re grateful that New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is joining the chorus pushing to reform New York’s archaic, predator-friendly abuse laws. He’s right when he says “By denying child sexual abuse victims their day in court, we are denying them their right to equal justice under the law.”  

But worse, New York’s incredibly strict statute of limitations is also helping child molesters stay hidden and putting kids at risk. It’s almost always through the criminal and civil courts that predators are exposed and children are protected.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/n-y-ag-urges-albany-action-kid-rape-law-article-1.2589828

For immediate release: Wednesday, April 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])

Under the headline “Hometown Team,” the latest issue of Catholic St. Louis portrays Bishop Robert Finn as one of several local priest who have climbed the clerical ladder to become prelates. But it makes no mention of Finn’s status as the only US bishop to be convicted for concealing evidence of child sex crimes from police and prosecutors.

http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/columns/joe-holleman/convicted-kc-priest-featured-among-notable-priests-from-st-louis/article_9f582aa1-440d-5ec8-9b76-ca604e338aa1.html

In a nutshell, this is one key reason why the clergy sex abuse and cover up scandal keeps roiling the church: because those who endanger kids, hide predators, stonewall prosecutors, deceive parishioners are almost never defrocked, demoted, disciplined or even denounced by their Catholic colleagues or supervisors.

Ignoring wrongdoing essentially encourages more wrongdoing.

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 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’re glad Pennsylvania lawmakers are finally moving to reform the state’s archaic, predator-friendly statute of limitations but disappointed that because there’s no civil window, hundreds who have committed or concealed child sex crimes will remain hidden and escape responsibility.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2016/04/statute_of_limitations_ron_mar_1.html

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 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])

A credibly accused Florida predator preacher has passed away. Now, we beg his former church members and colleagues to aggressively seek out anyone else who may have been hurt by him using church websites, pulpit announcements, social media and “word of mouth” so that the wounded may be consoled and learn that they aren’t alone.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-jeffery-london-dead-in-prison-20160405-story.html