Media Statements

For immediate release: Monday, July 13

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 glad that a parish priest becomes Greensburg’s Catholic bishop today. We are skeptical, however, because every time a chancery office staffer or other church bureaucrat is promoted, those men are most likely to have seen, suspected or heard about clergy sex crimes and cover ups and kept them covered up.

For immediate release: Monday, July 13

For more information:

David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Steve Theisen (319-231-1663, [email protected])

Two predator priests “outed” for first time

They spent time in two Nebraska Catholic dioceses

Both are “credibly accused child molesters,” church admits

Long secret records about them were just released last week

More hidden documents will be disclosed in the months ahead

Two Catholic priests who spent time in Nebraska have been publicly identified for the first time as “credibly accused” child molesters and a victims group wants local church officials to “aggressively seek out and help” others who have been hurt by them.   

For immediate release:  Sunday, July 12

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 very saddened and worried by recent claims made by the new head of the Twin Cities archdiocese. Bernard Hebda seems more like an over-the-top cheerleader than a thoughtful, conscientious shepherd. He seems fixated with public relations posturing to mollify the flock instead of fixing a scandal-ridden institution. At best, he seems like a Pollyanna and at worst, he seems like a slick politician.

--In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Hebda said that "great strides have already been made" in monitoring abusive priests.  http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/10/hebda

For immediate release: Sunday, July 12

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

We have little faith in secretive church “investigations,” so we are worried that Fr. Riley has allegedly been “cleared” by his bishop of child sex abuse accusations. It seems obvious that Bishop Michael Jackels’ hand-picked panel did not even interview the accuser but instead relied on the second-hand report of a person hand-picked and paid by Jackels.

Para publicación inmediata Viernes 10 de Julio 2015

Juan Carlos Cruz, Sobreviviente de Chile (+1 312-420-4301, [email protected])

Como víctima del sacerdote chileno Fernando Karadima, estoy profundamente agradecido a los miles de personas que han denunciado la designación por el Papa Francisco de Juan Barros como obispo de Osorno, Chile. Barros fue un estrecho colaborador de Karadima y encubridor de sus abusos sexuales contra menores y jóvenes vulnerables. Estoy especialmente agradecido de todos aquellos que hoy se niegan a rendirse y aceptar que la diócesis chilena de Osorno sea gobernada por un clérigo cómplice y encubridor de un condenado pedófilo.

For immediate release Friday July 10, 2015

Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (+1 312-399-4747, [email protected])

Three young men have been arrested in Bolivia (and apparently held for 14 hours) after trying to deliver a letter to Pope Francis about a controversial Chilean bishop the pontiff promoted.

He worked at three Iowa Catholic parishes

He’s a “credibly accused child molester,” church admits

Long secret records about him were just released last week

More hidden documents will be disclosed in the months ahead

A Catholic priest who worked in the Des Moines Catholic diocese has been publicly identified for the first time as a “credibly accused” child molester and a victims group wants local church officials to “aggressively seek out and help” others who may have been hurt by him.

He is Fr. Paul Kabat. According to the Official Catholic Directory, he worked in three Iowa towns: Milo (from 1995 to 1998), Council Bluffs (1992 to 1995) and Logan (from 1985 to 1992).

Statement by Verne Wagner, Duluth SNAP director

We belong to a support group called the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). We’re here to discuss the newly-outed five predator priests who have worked in Duluth. We’re here to warn parents and the public about the two of them who are still alive. And we’re here today to prod Duluth Catholic officials to find some courage, do what’s right, disclose more information and take real steps – not cosmetic ones, not superficial ones – to protect kids.

Let’s start with the obvious, the simple and the pressing: One of these clerics, Fr. Charland, is a psychologist in the Twin Cities. Other than being a priest, could there possibly be a more dangerous job for a child molester to have? http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/07/oblate-names-released

For immediate release: Thursday, July 9

For more information:  David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, S[email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])

Cleric who worked in Dayton abused girl with turkey baster

He pled guilty and now his sentencing hearing is being held

A Catholic cleric who spent time in the Cincinnati archdiocese abused a girl with a turkey baster and was “a sadist,” a court in Australia was told this week.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-08/catholic-brother-a-brazen-offender-who-grossly-abused-trust/6604270 

For immediate release: Thursday, July 9

For more information:

David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, S[email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])

Three predator priests “outed” for first time

All worked in the Springfield Catholic diocese