MN--SNAP “New St. Paul archdiocesan head’s first step”

For immediate release: Tuesday, June 16

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

Archbishop John Nienstedt’s replacement should immediately disclose more information about Fr. Gerald Dvorak, the latest Twin Cities archdiocesan cleric to be accused of child sex crimes.   

Last month, allegations against Fr. Dvorak surfaced publicly but Catholic officials refused to say

--when Nienstedt learned of the allegation

--how Nienstedt learned of the allegation

--which church official allegedly told law enforcement about it

--which law enforcement agency was allegedly told about it

--when church officials allegedly told law enforcement and

--where the abuse allegedly happened.

So much for “openness and transparency.”

It’s possible, therefore, that Nienstedt and other Twin Cities Catholic officials have known of and concealed this abuse report for years.

It’s especially outrageous that Twin Cities church officials refuse to say which police department they allegedly told of this abuse report. Lacking that, others who might help prove or disprove this allegation don’t know who to call to share what they may know about this case. That’s very self-serving and irresponsible.

Catholic officials should make it easier, not harder, for victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to be helpful. Church staff know know this. For their own selfish reasons – protecting their careers, comfort and reputations – they are deliberately making it harder for police and prosecutors to build a case against a credibly accused child molester. Hebda should take action on this case immediately.

We call on every Catholic employee and parishioner in Minnesota who has suspicions or knowledge of crimes by this cleric or church cover ups by any cleric to call police, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing. And we call on Bishop Hebda to disclose more information about Fr. Dvorak immediately.

(NOTE: Fr. Dvorak worked in Hopkins, St. Paul, and Minneapolis.)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 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 (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Verne Wagner, Northern Minnesota SNAP director (218-340-1277, [email protected]), Frank Meuers, Twin Cities SNAP director (952-334-5180, [email protected])