Media Statements

A long-dead Catholic clergyman from the Diocese of Burlington has been accused of sexually abusing a young boy in the 1960s. We commend the victim, who is now in his 60’s and wishes to remain anonymous, for having the courage and strength to come forward after carrying this heavy burden for so long. 

Fr. Roger Carlin died in 1980. The accusations stem from between 1966 and 1967 when the survivor was 9 years of age.  The cleric was assigned to St. John Vianney Church in South Burlington at the time.

A recent review of documents from the ongoing Vatican trial of Fr. Gabriele Martinelli revealed that powerful figures within the Church hierarchy discounted warnings given about the seminary student before his ordination.

We are outraged by this news. The alerts given to Catholic officials about Seminarian Martinelli should have prompted both internal investigation and a report to law enforcement. We are stunned that the complete opposite happened and the Seminarian was ordained a priest.

We were astonished to learn of yet another continuance in the trial of Philadelphia Catholic priest Armand Garcia. The cleric’s trial was set to begin on July 12, 2021, but has been put off until August 24, 2021. We can imagine how hard these continued delays must be on the brave survivor. We here at SNAP support her and hope that the slow wheels of justice will soon provide the closure she deserves.

Colorado Senate Bill 88 signed into law, allowing victims of childhood sexual assault to hold institutions accountable; SNAP applauds the development

On July 6th Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 88 into law. This "window to justice," which will allow victims of child sexual abuse who were assaulted after 1960 to file lawsuits for restitution from public and private entities, will go into effect in January of 2022 and remain open for three years.  Private entities could be responsible for up to $500,000 in damages, with a possibility of that amount doubling should the court find that there was any cover-up. Public institutions are only responsible for damages up to $387,000. 

If there was ever any doubt that New York's Child Victims Act would effectively expose perpetrators and the institutions that enabled them, those doubts surely continued to fade yesterday as a high-ranking Catholic official in the Diocese of Buffalo was accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing a young boy. We were not surprised to learn that the abuse occurred during what is supposed to be a memorable time for a young Catholic, their confirmation.

A woman who worked as a cook and housekeeper for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Selma, California, has filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Fresno, citing the abuse she experienced from Fr. Guadalupe Rios, former Parochial Administrator of the parish. In the complaint, the plaintiff described a sexual relationship filled with violence, alcohol, and drugs. Known locally as the ‘Party Priest,’ Fr. Rios has been identified in social media photographs brandishing assault rifles and a high power .357 magnum handgun. The clergyman was also convicted of a DUI in 2016 for driving with a blood-alcohol content of .19 percent — more than twice the legal limit.

Popular Anglican Bishop Stewart Ruch III of the Anglican Church in North America’s Upper Midwest Diocese has stepped down for what he termed a “regrettable error.” That error was the refusal to inform the faithful in his Diocese that lay minister Mark Rivera had been charged with felony child sex abuse in 2019. The Bishop had known of the charges since that year, but only informed the parishioners of the Diocese last month.

According to a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Rev. Msgr. Leo McCarthy is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at St. Matthew's Church and School in 1982. The priest has been placed on leave by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Although Msgr. McCarthy is retired, he was assisting in parish ministry at Blessed Sacrament Church in the Town of Tonawanda before his leave. The cleric denies the allegations.

Al Behm, a former Catholic Brother with the Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM), has been accused of sexually abusing a boy in the Diocese of Charlotte in a recently filed lawsuit. Behm was identified as an abuser by the GHM in October of 2019 and is also named by the Diocese of Charlotte, although only as someone who was "accused elsewhere." Behm left the Brotherhood in 1993. We are disturbed that from that time until a couple of years ago, the former Brother has been free to continue working with children in unsuspecting communities.

Cincinnati parents have come together to use their voices and influence to protect their children from one of the world’s most abusive Catholic orders. We applaud these residents for pushing back against a plan that could put young lives in danger. We hope that their example will inspire other parents and parishioners across the country.