MN- Predator priest escapes justice
For immediate release: Monday, April 7, 2014
Statement by Frank Meuers of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (952-334-5180, [email protected])
Our hearts ache for the victim of Fr. Christopher Wenthe who has been hurt again today by this depressing court ruling
We strongly urge Ramsey County prosecutors to re-try this case.
http://www.startribune.com/local/254218021.html
Today's ruling is another painful reminder why it's so critical that every single person who sees, suspects or suffers clergy sex crimes speak up. Had Fr. Wenthe faced two or three or four of his victims in court, he likely would have pled guilty. Instead, as happens so often in these cases, he and his expensive lawyers found a legal loophole to evade justice.
But it's not too late. We beg everyone with knowledge of or suspicions about Fr. Wenthe to call police, protect others and start healing.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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]), Frank Meuers of Plymouth (952-334-5180,[email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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“He already has served his time and is not a practicing priest, his lawyer Paul Engh said. Wenthe also is currently required to register as a sex offender, but this ruling would negate that. Engh said his client would like to get back into the priesthood. “It’s his chosen profession,” Engh said.
Engh said Wenthe can’t be sentenced to any more time. If he were given a new trial and convicted, his only punishment would be the requirement that he register as a predatory sex offender.
Engh, who represents several priests accused of sexual misconduct, said the ruling has broad implications for all the cases."