MO - Archdiocese in court Friday, seeks to limit discovery
Archbishop wants to give less info to victim
Carlson’s lawyers will try tomorrow to limit judge’s ruling
Case involves convicted predator priest who abused in 2000
Catholic officials have been ordered to turn over 20 years of records
The documents would cover child sex abuse allegations vs. all church employees
For immediate release: Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013
For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP Director (314) 566-9790 cell, [email protected]
Tomorrow, lawyers for the archbishop will try to severely restrict that order and limit the information they must provide to the alleged victim of a convicted St. Louis predator priest.
The case involves Fr. Joseph D. Ross, who allegedly molested a girl at an inner city parish in 2000. In 1988, Ross pled guilty to sexually assaulting an 11 year old boy during confession. Despite that conviction, Catholic officials quietly put Ross back on the job but told no one about his crimes.
In May, a St. Louis city judge ordered Catholic officials to turn over records about 20 years of child allegations of sexual abuse by employees of the archdiocese.
Lawyers for Archbishop Robert Carlson want Judge Robert Dierker to reconsider his order. They say they should be forced to provide records for a shorter period of time, only about alleged child sex crimes, only about accused priests (not bishops, seminarians, brothers, nuns, teachers and other employees), and only records that have already been made public through criminal or civil court filings.
“Carlson wants to basically gut the judge’s order and keep his secrets secret,” said David Clohessy of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “If he gets his way, Carlson will get a lot of information from a teenaged victim and, in turn, provide her with virtually nothing new.”
“It’s the worst of both worlds here. Carlson is asking for tons of private emails to and from a deeply wounded teenager, the victim in this case,” said Barbara Dorris of SNAP. “But he argues that he should have to turn over almost nothing of substance to her and her attorneys.”
Dorris says that Carlson’s legal maneuvers prove “that bishops’ obsession with secrecy by in clergy sex cases is as strong today as it’s ever been,” only now “bishops work harder and smarter and more quietly to keep their role in clergy sex crimes hidden.”
Dierker also ordered Carlson to produce
--correspondence between Ross and the now-retired Cardinal Justin Rigali, who headed the St. Louis archdiocese for years, and
--material sent by St. Louis Catholic officials to the Vatican in their effort to defrock Ross.
Carlson’s lawyers also want those parts of Dierker’s order reversed.
The hearing is tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. before Judge Dierker in Division 18 in St. Louis city circuit court.
A photo of Ross is available at BishopAccountability.org
Ross has lived in Arkansas in recent years. He worked at parishes in University City, Lemay, Pacific, Woodson Terrace and St. Louis city.
At least one Ross victim is represented by St. Louis attorneys Ken Chackes (369 3902, [email protected]). St. Louis lawyer Scott Rosenblum has represented Ross.
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
Showing 1 comment
-so called- “leaders” like Carlson,Dolan,Listecki,Finn,Myers and many more are in effect re injuring already fragile victims/survivors by using Enron-type legal strategies. These disgraceful men have long forgotten that they run an organization based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. These despicable men along with the clergy and Catholics that remain silent while watching their leaders cause more pain to the victims should be ashamed of themselves. They all should reach out to each victim with love and care while doing whatever it takes for as long as it takes to help each and every victim on their journey through healing. Protecting power, assets and privilege at the expense of innocent lives is what has eroded the credibility and moral relevance of this church. Only the laity and any clergy with courage can stand up and change it. The Pope for 8 months has remained silent about the elephant in the room. Hope for him to do what is right is quickly evaporating. It soon will be too late.Dan Ogrodowski
Victim and sometime survivor
Eagle WI
[email protected]