NC- Former pastor faces additional charges, SNAP responds

For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014

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

A North Carolina ex-pastor has been charged with an additional 26 child sexual abuse charges after more victims came forward. We are grateful to the victims who have come forward and reported to police. Their bravery will help others who are suffering in silence and self-blame.

Orlando Augusto Caldera was a minister at Memorial United Methodist Church. A 6 year old, a 10 year old and one of the children’s mother reported to police that Caldera had sexually abused them. Their bravery encouraged an additional 5 victims to come forward.

We hope anyone else who was hurt by Caldera, or any other church officials, will find the courage to speak up, report what they know to 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 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 (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])

 


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