MN- No indictments for MN Catholic officials

For immediate release: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014

Statement by Frank Meuers of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, [email protected])

We're not lawyers. But we refuse to believe that Twin Cities secular officials are helpless in the face of so much recklessness, callousness and deceit by dozens of complicit Catholic officials year after year after year.

Al Capone was nabbed on income tax evasion. Other criminals are nabbed on various and sometimes lesser charges, whether perjury, witness tampering, endangering children, obstructing justice, destroying evidence, and intimidating victims. We believe that usually, “where there's a will, there's a way.”

Dozens of predator priests have assaulted hundreds of kids and hundreds of adults have been deceived by dozens of Catholic officials. Yet only a handful of the molesters – and none of the enablers – has ever seen the inside of a courtroom. That's not just a tragedy. It's an on-going public safety crisis.

Police and prosecutors must work harder, dig deeper, and be more aggressive and creative.

It's meaningless for law enforcement officials to say they're troubled by” or “unhappy about” the corrupt practices of Catholic officials. The verbal displeasure of police and prosecutors, in response to media questions, doesn't stop or deter crimes. The actions of police and prosecutors stop and deter crimes.

Given how widespread and devastating child sex crimes and cover ups are, we beg law enforcement officials to be less timid about pursuing charges. Law enforcement exists to protect those who can't protect themselves. So a conviction isn't the sole criteria for success. Sometimes just bringing a case, even if it doesn't end in proven guilt, can expose and deter wrongdoing.

We're also saddened – but not surprised - that the St. Paul police chief said today that archdiocesan officials could do more to be helpful. Catholics should stop donating until police report complete total cooperation by their church officials.

We suspect that there are other current and former church staff who could help the on-going investigation of the St. Paul/Minneapolis archdiocesan cover ups. We beg them to find the courage to break the unhealthy code of silence that still persists in the church hierarchy and call police now.

Now more than ever, it's crucial that anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups in Minnesota steps forward. Otherwise those who enabled child sex crimes may escape consequences and continue enabling child sex crimes.

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Bob Schwiderski of Wayzata 952-471-3422, [email protected]