Media Statements

For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug. 13

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

Authorities have charged a Houston pastor with sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl.

This predator is away from kids largely because, according to one news account, “a church member who saw suspicious activity . . . continuously voiced her concerns.” We are grateful to this brave and compassionate person for speaking up.

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])

Archbishop John Myers answers under oath are pathetic. He wants us to believe everyone and everything else is at fault, while he allegedly did nothing wrong.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/depo/2010_05_12_Myers_Deposition/

He blames allegedly bad files, therapists, underlings, canon law (p. 188) and even buildings (page 34 & 145).

For immediate release: Tuesday, Aug 12

Statement by Mark Crawford New Jersey Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (732-632-7687, [email protected])

There are two parts of this settlement. One is the money. The other is the papers.

It’s easy and tempting to focus on the money. But that’s missing the point. The real significance here is in the deposition and the documents. 

For immediate release: August 13, 2013

Statement by Jeff Jones of SNAP (815 985 9441, [email protected])

I am proud and grateful to be here today. Like Andrew Ward, I have played a small role in helping to uncover the corruption and complicity of the Catholic hierarchy in the Peoria Diocese. I know, from painful first-hand experience, that Peoria Catholic officials fight long and hard against victims. So I am proud of Andrew and his parents. They have achieved something here that very few victims have achieved – some long over-due truth and justice that will help protect others by deterring future cover ups.

I’m here because Andrew has settled his lawsuit. It was a long, hard battle. It involved one predator priest, one corrupt bishop and one troubled diocese. It settled for $1.35 million.

Tomorrow in Newark, parents of a child sex abuse victim will

-- announce a settlement of a child sexual abuse and cover up case involving a priest,

-- release a deposition of Newark Archbishop John Myers and

-- release long-hidden church records about a predator priest.

To the Staff at Oratory Preparatory School in Summit NJ,

To the Staff at St. Cecilia’s parish in Englewood NJ,

Newly released church records show that a credibly accused child molesting cleric, Fr. Joseph B. DiPeri, worked at your school/parish. He also worked in Jersey City, Newark, and Garfield (all in the Newark archdiocese.) He may well have also been assigned to or done substitute work in other parishes or Catholic institutions.

We in SNAP suspect you and/or your staff has known these facts – and maybe more facts - for years. If so, shame on you for your years of reckless, self-serving silence.

Predator priest worked in MT

New records about him just released

Catholic officials should do outreach, group says

SNAP to bishops: “Don’t let his victims suffer in shame, isolation and self-blame”

Dear Newark Archbishop John Myers, Metuchen Bishop Paul Bootkoski, and Trenton Bishop David O'Connell:

We have learned recently that three more credibly accused child molesting clerics have worked in your dioceses. Two (Fr. Eusebio Pantoja and Fr. Rubin Abaya) have never been “outed” here in New Jersey before today. One (Fr. Joseph B. DiPeri) was just “outed” here last week.

The three worked in Perth Amboy (Metuchen diocese), Rumson (Trenton diocese), and Jersey City, Newark, Garfield, Summit and Englewood (all in the Newark archdiocese.) They may have also been assigned to substitute work in other parishes or Catholic institutions.

For immediate release: Friday, Aug. 9          

Statement by Steve Theisen of Hudson IA, Iowa director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (319 231 1663, [email protected])

Next week, America’s largest group of nuns meets in Orlando. And today, a former top Catholic official publicly admits that child sex crimes by nuns are “invisible.” 

http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/judge-sisters-need-investigate-abuse-allegations

But he opposes changing church policy so the same child sex guidelines that govern bishops would govern nuns. We strongly disagree. 

For immediate release: August 8, 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 Des Moines youth pastor has been charged with child sex crimes. His church supervisors and members must now seek out others who he may have hurt.