Media Statements

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016

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

Police have seized documents from the headquarters of the Catholic church in New Mexico because of a child sex abuse case. We applaud this move and hope it results in top church officials being criminally charged for ignoring or hiding evidence about possible child sex crimes.

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/sheriff-s-deputies-seize-archdiocese-records-in-molestation-case/article_2b91556d-d68b-582b-8bdd-657a503d05db.html

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016

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

A Saginaw priest is being sued for sexually exploiting a college student. We applaud her courage while we deplore the secrecy of Saginaw’s bishop.

http://www.cm-life.com/article/2016/02/father-heames-lawsuit

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016

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

A vengeful, selfish pastor is back on the job while the brave whistleblowers he sued and hurt are still suffering, as are the families whose kids were abused by a now-imprisoned child molester who worked at the church.

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2016/02/09/after-six-months-away-pastor-at-center-of-church-cover-up-scandal-returns

(Partial list)   February 2016

Father George Broussard - Broussard attended Pontifical College Josephinum in the late 1950s and early '60s. Sued 2003. Accused of sexual abuse of 3 brothers over a 4 yr period. One plaintiff signed affidavit that his father met with Cardinal Bernard Law, then Vicar General of Diocese, in 1973 to report the abuse but Law did nothing. In 6/02 deposition in another case Law admitted that he failed to keep Broussard, his friend and classmate at seminary, away from children after being warned that he was molesting children. Suit settled 3/06

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2002_06_06_Rezendes_MattCarroll_George_Broussard_2.htm

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2002_06_06_Mashberg_MissCase_George_Broussard_3.htm

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_06_07_Washington_SecondMiss_Boyce_and_Broussard_1.htm

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_01_06/2005_05_09_Elliott_TimeA.htm

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 

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

We’re grateful that a Pennsylvania judge has denied a new trial for a predator priest. We’re disappointed but not surprised that the child molesting cleric says he’ll appeal. And we hope that all Catholic officials in Pennsylvania and Honduras will use their vast resources to find and help others who were assaulted by this priest or who helped conceal his crimes.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/trial-priest-convicted-sex-tourism-boys-36795452

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

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

We’re grateful to the Chicopee police for warning the public about ex-priest Richard Lavigne. We wish Springfield Catholic officials would likewise step up and alert and remind parents about this dangerous man.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/02/chicopee_police_alert_public_t.html

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

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

A new book says that a high profile and controversial Connecticut-based Catholic religious order “invests in companies involved in the arms race, pornography and high-end real estate” and a Catholic journalist says this may make “a mockery” of Francis’ more progressive agenda. ­­­­­­­­­­

http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-heads-mexico-amid-legionaries-christ-disclosures-0

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

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

Two more central Pennsylvania priests have been suspended because of child sex abuse reports. This means that 31 Altoona-Johnstown Catholic priests are publicly accused of sexually assaulting kids.

Fr. David Arsenault (AR’-sen-oh) and Fr. James Coveney are on leave due to allegations that they molested kids.

Bishop Mark Bartchak’s announcement about this move was troubling.

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

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

A Pennsylvania minister who is accused of molesting “at least three boys” at a Rhode Island school and reportedly admits molesting one in Canada is now being investigated by North Carolina police department for perhaps abusing a child in North Carolina.

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20160206/NEWS/160209461

For immediate release, February 6, 2016

Statement by Barbara Blaine, President of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 312-399-4747, [email protected]

"The Vatican says that as part of an advisory body, the (Pope's abuse) commission's members should not comment on individual cases of abuse and leave these up to investigators," Reuters reports.