Media Statements

It is disconcerting that, in the case of Rev. Mendicoa, the Archdiocese of Boston has made nothing public except that the claim was “unsubstantiated." How was this determination made? Who were the witnesses? What criteria were used?  Because it provides no answers to these questions, the Archdiocese’s statement really means nothing. A statement this cryptic and a process this mysterious neither exonerates the priest nor reassures the public.

We're grateful that a St. Louis County judge is letting Darrell & Rhonda Pitts' case against Rev. Billy Lee Little and the Christ Memorial Baptist Church move ahead. (Judge Steven Goldman issued his ruling this morning.) We're always glad when victims are given their day in court, and not left helpless because of archaic or arbitrary legal technicalities.

On Monday, here at the St. Louis County courthouse, arguments in a previously-undisclosed sexual exploitation lawsuit will be heard. The case is against a minister, ex- psychologist, ex-St. Louis Cardinals’ consultant and ex-KMOX radio talk show host, Rev. William L. Little. 

It is one thing to punish a priest for his crimes and misdeeds he committed while wearing the collar. It is quite another to wash your hands of him, knowing full well what he has done and will likely continue to do, and consider the matter resolved. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia acted irresponsibly with their handling of Fr. David Sicoli in the past. They are acting negligently with regard to Sicoli now.

It’s both dangerous and outrageous any time alleged spiritual figures insist that their followers agree to keep potential crimes secret. The notion that "that all disputes be settled within the confines of the church" is a pedophile’s dream and recipe for disaster.

Yesterday, Fr. Bradley Schaeffer stepped down from his position on the Board of Trustees at Brebeuf Jesuit in Indianapolis. We are glad that this cleric has been removed from his position of honor.

Shame on Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin. He got a credible report of sexual abuse by Fr. Timothy Gordon and kept it secret, just like bishops have done for decades.

We are here today representing three different groups who want a Board member of Loyola University’s Board of Trustees to resign. The three groups are SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, CCC, Coalition of Concerned Catholics and VOTF, Voice of the Faithful.

The decision today by the Baltimore jury that found Pastor Leon Jones guilty of eight counts of child sexual abuse is one step towards healing the pain that his young victim has suffered. We hope that anyone else who may have been a victim of Jones’ crimes are emboldened by this decision and come forward to police and prosecutors. 

We applaud the Kansas Board of Education for revoking the teaching license of woman who delayed in reporting suspected child sex crimes to law enforcement.