MN--Victims urge new archbishop to release report

For immediate release: Monday, March 28, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])

Now that the reins of the Twin Cities Catholic church are firmly in his hands, and now that Easter has passed,

Archbishop Bernard Hebda must reveal the results of the expensive but still-secret church inquiry into alleged sexual exploitation and misdeeds by his predecessor, Archbishop John Nienstedt.

It’s irresponsible for Hebda to pretend he can move forward while continuing to conceal the results of that report. It’s been hidden for months.

We have little faith in church-sponsored misconduct “investigations” into clergy sex crimes and misdeeds. But if Catholic officials choose to launch and fund such probes, they owe it to parishioners, parents, police, prosecutors and the public to disclose the findings.

If a priest accused of multiple serious sexual misdeeds resigns, that doesn’t end the process of investigating the allegations against him. So Nienstedt’s resignation as archbishop can’t end the process of investigating the allegations against him.

Catholic officials have pledged to investigate accusations of sexual misconduct against priests. They must do the same with accusations of sexual misconduct against bishops. In both cases, they must disclose what they’ve learned, for the safety of the vulnerable, the healing of the wounded and the health of the church.

Does anyone really believe that it’s fair or right or healthy for Twin Cities Catholics to pay for but learn nothing from a costly “investigation” into multiple reports of sexual wrongdoing and exploitation by their former archbishop?

The Bible tells us “the truth shall set you free.” Notice that phrase: “The truth.” Not 10%, 30% or even 90% of the truth. The truth. That’s what Catholics and citizens need and deserve before anyone can or should even considering “turning the page” or “moving forward.”

No cancer patient be satisfied or confident if a surgeon said “We’ve removed 10% or 30% or 90% of the cancer we found in you.” And no Twin Cities Catholic should be satisfied or confident while information about clergy sex crimes, misdeeds and cover ups – especially by the one-time highest ranking Catholic prelate in Minnesota – remains under wraps.

Finally, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes, misdeeds and cover ups in Minnesota Catholic churches or institutions – especially in the Twin Cities – to protect innocent kids and vulnerable adults by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling journalists, get justice by calling attorneys, and get comfort by calling support groups like ours. This is how Catholics will be safer, victims will recover, criminals will be prosecuted and cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

(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]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected])