Media Statements

He worked and abused in Detroit

But bishops told no one about him

SNAP: Catholic officials still “endanger kids”

Their “continued secrecy” violates church policies

Those who “saw, suspected or suffered abuse must speak up,” group says

For immediate release: Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013

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

For immediate release: Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013

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

A credibly accused predator priest now teaches sex education for Wright County (according to Minnesota Public Radio). We call on county officials to immediately fire him. And we call on St. Paul/Minneapolis Catholic officials to explain why they continue to keep silent about the allegations against him.

http://origin-minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/catholic-church/2013/12/19/abuse-claims-kept-secret-allowed-priest-to-minister-and-teach-sex-ed/?from=hp

Fr. Harry Walsh reportedly molested at least two kids. A settlement was paid to one of them. He studied to become a “sexologist” and had a lengthy “affair” with a married parishioner (such conduct is now illegal in Minnesota).

For immediate release: Wednesday December 18, 2013

Statement by Bob Schwiderski, SNAP Minnesota director (952 471 3422, [email protected])

Enough is enough. Catholic officials should start defrocking Fr. Kevin McDonough. And Catholic parishioners should donate elsewhere until this happens.

Fr. McDonough knows more about clergy sex crimes and cover ups than anyone else in the archdiocese.  His name and fingerprints are on many church records about concealing known and suspected crimes.

But the final straw came late yesterday when St. Paul’s police chief named Fr. McDonough as one of the archdiocesan clerics who refuse to be questioned by police.

For immediate release: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013

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

The elevation of Boston’s Bishop Robert Deeley to head Maine’s Catholic archdiocese is yet another in a string of disappointing promotions made in recent months. (Others include new Hartford Bishop Leonard Blair, El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz, Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano and Dubuque Archbishop Michael Jackels.)

Deeley admits working closely with then-Cardinal Josef Ratzinger at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees – and hides – clergy sex crimes from across the globe. We suspect Deeley knows of hundreds of credibly accused child molesting Catholic clerics and we doubt if he’s reported even one to law enforcement.

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013

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

According to the Pioneer Press, “St. Paul police Chief Thomas Smith said Tuesday that investigators have not gotten cooperation from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on sexual abuse cases.”

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_24740703/archbishop-nienstedt-accused-will-step-aside

This is, in our view, the most serious and damning disclosure yet in the Twin Cities Catholic crisis – that even now, even to law enforcement, Catholic officials say one thing and do another, and that even now, Catholic officials refuse to do the absolute bare minimum – responding to questions from the police.

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 17 2013

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

Kelly Clark was among the most compassionate men I've ever met and one of the most effective advocates for abuse victims. Kelly always saw the big picture and put the needs of his clients - both short term and long term - ahead of every other consideration.

For immediate release: Tuesday December 17, 2013

Statement by Peter Isely of Milwaukee, SNAP Midwest Director, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (414-429-7259, [email protected])

For at least three reasons, we believe that Fr. Doerfler should never have been promoted.

--In a March 2011 deposition in the case of serial Green Bay child molester Fr. Patrick Feeney, Doerfler, then chancellor and vicar general of the diocese, admitted under oath that in 2007 he deliberately and systematically destroyed nearly all records and documentation in church files of Green Bay clergy reported to the diocese to have sexually assaulted children.  The shredding took place just after the Wisconsin State Supreme Court ruled that victims of childhood sexual abuse could file fraud suits against Catholic dioceses in the state for covering up for sexually abusive clerics like Feeney. 

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])

The Twin Cities archbishop is now accused of abuse.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/12/17/archbishop-to-step-aside-amid-sexual-abuse-allegation/

Archbishop Nienstedt is right to step aside.  We hope police and prosecutors investigate this thoroughly and promptly. We also hope that anyone else who might be able to shed light on this allegation will quickly step forward, contacting secular authorities, not church authorities.

For immediate release: Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 

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

Father John Doerfler of the Diocese of Green Bay is the new bishop of Marquette, Michigan. We are disappointed with this promotion.

Doerfler has been a high ranking official in that diocese for some time. It’s a diocese with a terrible track record on clergy sex abuse and cover up cases.

We believe that Fr. Doerfler is also associated with a controversial Catholic group called Courage:

For immediate release: Monday December 16, 2013

Statement by Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director, 314-862-7688 [email protected]

Because he's being forced to do so by a judge and a determined victim, Winona’s Catholic bishop will release a list of proven, admitted and credibly accused predator priests soon. That's just the beginning.

http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/winona-diocese-plans-to-release-priest-list-this-morning/article_96715cf8-90a3-5fbb-89bd-0862ee794049.html

Winona Catholic officials must now go further. The bishop should