Media Statements
We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
MN--Victims: Don't donate to predator priest's "healing center"
For immediate release: Thursday, Sep. 10
Statement by Frank Meuers, Minnesota SNAP leader, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, [email protected])
We urge Catholics and citizens to donate to non-profits with proven records in preventing abuse and healing victims, not to the facility a convicted Minnesota predator priest and others are trying to set up.
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/09/08/convicted-priest-wants-to-buy-st-paul-chancery
CA--FACT SHEET on clerics who were exposed elsewhere as abusers but worked in the Sacramento Diocese
In about 20 minutes, using one website (BishopAccountability.org), we found ten proven, admitted or credibly accused predator priests who were “outed” elsewhere but worked in the Sacramento area. On 9/8/15, SNAP disclosed their names:
--Fr. Robert "Bob" Marsicek
According to his personnel files, his superiors repeatedly told him to stop hugging and touching children. In May 2012, Sacramento police launched an investigation of Marsicek after a woman reported that the priest had molested her two sons in the late 1980s and early 1990s while he was their parish pastor.
Fr. Marsicek’s direct supervisor is Fr. Joseph Rodrigues, who knew of the Sacramento investigation but kept Fr. Marsicek in ministry in Milwaukee. Almost a year later, Fr. Marsicek was put on leave after a parish school teacher reported that she observed him on several occasions inappropriately touching a little girl.
MN--Victims blast predator priest’s “healing center”
For immediate release: Tuesday, Sept. 8
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected])
We are alarmed that a convicted Minnesota predator priest is trying to raise money and start a “healing center.”
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/09/08/convicted-priest-wants-to-buy-st-paul-chancery
NJ--Victims urge church officials to restore memorial
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
Why must already-wounded and betrayed abuse survivors be forced to pay for a memorial at a Catholic church? Why can’t New Jersey church officials pony up this time?
TN--Victims urge “outreach” in church abuse case
For immediate release: Friday, Sept. 4
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
We applaud law enforcement personnel for catching an abusive minister who fled overseas and hope the alleged criminal’s church colleagues will aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes.
IL-- Victims urge parishioners to show compassion
For immediate release: Friday, Sept. 4
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
Every time parishioners rally around a credibly accused child molesting cleric, it’s sad, tiresome and hurtful, to vulnerable kids, wounded and ultimately to the parish itself.
That’s what’s happening now in Peoria with Fr. Terry Cassidy, who was suspended last month by Bishop Daniel Jenky because of an abuse report.
http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/article/20150902/NEWS/150909786
NY--Victims blast Orthodox man who assaulted whistleblower
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
A Brooklyn abuse advocate is suing a man who allegedly threw bleach on him.
Malta--Bishops pledge to post predators’ names
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected], [email protected])
We are grateful, and kids are safer, any time a predator’s name is posted on line or appears in print. So we’re glad that Malta Catholic officials will reportedly put child molesting clerics’ names on church websites.
MO-- Diocese pays settlement re Naples predator priest
For immediate release: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015
For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director (314) 566-9790 cell, [email protected], [email protected]
Diocese pays abuse settlement
Cleric is long time Naples resident
Victim is veteran head of support group
Pedophile priest worked in nine Missouri towns
Man worries that predator “may still be hurting kids now”
MI--Orthodox bishop ousted for alleged sexual misconduct
For immediate release, Thursday, September 3, 2015
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, CA, Orthodox Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, [email protected])
A Michigan Orthodox bishop has been put on leave and forbidden to work as a priest while allegations of sexual misconduct are investigated. A victims’ group applauds the disclosure but wants church officials to do more.
On September 1st, Dearborn Heights Archbishop Nathaniel Popp (517-522-4800, nathaniel@roea.org) publicly disclosed on his website that his auxiliary bishop, Irineu Duvlea (517-456-4474, [email protected]), was being investigated by the Office for Review of Sexual Misconduct Allegations of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).