Media Statements

For immediate release: Thursday, 2/19

For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director 314-566-9790 cell, [email protected], Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director 314-503-0003, [email protected]

Sex abuse victims blast IL university

College let controversial priest speak

Cleric resigned from St. Louis Police Board

He allegedly sexually harassed three officers

And he offered to watch child porn with one

Group wants school president to apologize & explain”

“Those responsible should be disciplined,” SNAP says

A victims’ support group wants officials at an Illinois college to explain and apologize for their decision to let a Catholic priest who was accused of sexually harassing at least three police officers speak last month on campus. Those responsible should be disciplined, the organization says.  

For immediate release: Thursday, February 19, 2015

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, CA, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, [email protected])

A recent special assembly of the Long Island-based Orthodox Church in America (OCA) nominated an episcopal candidate for the long vacant see of the Diocese of the South.

https://www.facebook.com/wilmingtonoca/posts/1038294042852069:0   

For immediate release: Wednesday, Feb. 18

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])

One of at least six credibly accused Baltimore predator priests who worked at one Catonsville parish has died. And Baltimore’s archbishop, as best we can tell, kept this secret.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/baltimoresun/obituary.aspx?pid=174125430  

For immediate release: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, CA, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, [email protected])

Last week, students at Swarthmore College joined students at Boston University and Yale in questioning why their schools haven’t rescinded the honorary degrees they have awarded to entertainer Bill Cosby.

http://swarthmorephoenix.com/2015/02/12/bill-cosby/    

For immediate release: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

For more information: David Clohessy, 314 566 9790, [email protected]

Predator sought to get his conviction tossed out

Priest pled guilty to child sex crimes in Boonville

But weeks ago, he tried to get judge to free him

He had also molested a New Jersey boy in the 1980s

Cleric had worked in three mid-Missouri counties

After leaving his Catholic post, he was a counselor

SNAP: “He's one of the most egregious child molesting clerics”

Late last year, a Catholic priest who lived and worked in three mid-Missouri counties asked a judge to set aside his child sex abuse plea, claiming inadequate legal representation and obstruction of justice.   

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 17

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 grateful that a prominent Chicago Muslim cleric faces criminal assault charges. But now is not the time for complacency. It’s time for every single person who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or misdeeds by Mohammad Abdullah Saleem – or cover ups by or at the Institute for Islamic Education – to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers and protect kids.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-muslim-religious-leader-faces-sexualabuse-charge-20150217-story.html   

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 17

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

More than 50 Chilean politicians are asking Pope Francis to rescind the promotion of a bishop who concealed heinous child sex crimes. We applaud them and join in their call to have Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno demoted.

http://www.laprensasa.com/309_america-in-english/2957135_lawmakers-call-on-pope-to-reverse-appointment-of-chilean-bishop.html   

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015

For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director (314) 566-9790 cell, [email protected]

Many predator priest records to be made public

They may shed light on Anchorage Catholic bishop

Files about pedophiles in his old diocese must be released

And documents about his religious order will be turned over too

A recent court order releasing thousands of pages of church records about accused predator priests may shed light on how Anchorage's archbishop handled clergy sex abuse cases in his previous diocese and his religious order.

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/01/28/sex-abuse-documents

http://www.bnd.com/2015/02/14/3662227_shrine-priests-ordered-to-release.html?rh=1  

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 17

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])

Statement by Amy Smith, SNAP Dallas Director (281 748 4050, [email protected])

Houston’s top Catholic official says that some of his colleagues around the world apparently minimize the problem of predator priests and believe it’s “not a universal problem,” according to an interview he gave to a Catholic news source.

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/02/14/us-cardinal-voices-doubts-on-vatican-reform-communion-for-divorced/   

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 16

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach CA, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434, [email protected])

It’s wrong and deceptive for Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s to claim that there’s a "perception of a lack of accountability” on the part of church officials. There is indeed no accountability. It’s not a perception problem. It’s a reality.

And it’s a continuing reality.  It’s wrong for O’Malley to speak strictly in the past tense when these crimes and cover ups are happening right now.    

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/pope-francis-sex-abuse-point-man-urges-bishop-accountability-article-1.2117759