NC--Victims applaud new ruling in pedophile priest case
For immediate release: Tuesday, July 7
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
We’re grateful a new court ruling will let a pedophile priest case move forward and we beg anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by the cleric or cover ups by his church superiors to step forward.
http://www.wxii12.com/news/NC-Appeals-Court-allows-priest-sex-abuse-lawsuit-to-proceed/34035848
We also applaud the brave victim who is bringing the case against Fr. Edgar Sepulveda and the Raleigh Catholic diocese. It takes real courage to confront those who committed and concealed heinous child sex crimes, especially when they’re part of a powerful institution.
This judge’s decision is part of a long-standing, gradual but crucial trend in US courts toward letting more and more victims of horrific childhood sexual violence seek justice, prevent crimes and expose wrongdoers. We applaud this judge for giving Fr. Sepulveda’s victim a chance to shine a light on abuse and cover ups in court.
Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbridge should stop hiding behind his desk, his lawyers and his public relations team. He should go to each place where Fr. Sepulveda worked, begging anyone who may have knowledge of or suspicions about clergy sex crimes or cover ups to call police and prosecutors immediately.
NOTE – Fr. Sepulveda worked in these North Carolina towns: Newton Grove, Mt. Olive, Beulaville, Magnolia and Pink Hill. He also spent some time in Shallotte.
( For another troubling Raleigh area predator priest case that’s gotten virtually no attention:
http://www.snapnetwork.org/nc_alleged_predator_priest_now_in_nc_gets_off_the_hook )
(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, S[email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine(312-399-4747, [email protected])
NC Appeals Court allows priest sex abuse lawsuit to proceed
Published 1:32 PM EDT Jul 07, 2015, WXII12.com
RALEIGH, N.C. —A three-judge panel has ruled that a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh over an allegation of child sexual abuse by a priest can move forward.
The case involves allegations that the Rev. Edgar Sepulveda of Santa Teresa Mission in Beulaville engaged in sex acts with a 16-year-old boy. Sepulveda was criminally charged in 2010, but Brunswick County prosecutors later . . .
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 2 comments
I also applaud the three judge panel for reaching the right decision.