NJ- Another Catholic bishop spends a fortune on his home

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 17

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

Shame on Archbishop John Myers. Despite claims that he's imitating Christ, Myers is spending an exorbitant amount for his own comfort, status and worldly prestige.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/newark_archbishops_future_retirement_home_valued_at_800g_undergoing_a_500g_addition.html

Hundreds of Newark Catholics have been betrayed twice – first, by a predator priest, then by a corrupt archbishop. Many of them are unemployed, underemployed, or unemployable, struggling with crippling medical and therapy bills. Meanwhile, Myers spends parishioners' hard-earned contributions to make himself feel better.

The claim that donations from the flock aren't paying for Myers' opulence are disingenuous. The Catholic church manufacturers nothing. Its wealth is given to it – either in cash, checks, stocks, bonds or property. Myers can try to spin this any way he likes. But it's obvious that he's exploiting the kindness of rank-and-file Catholics to enhance his own luxurious lifestyle, while those who have been severely hurt by his selfishness, recklessness and callousness continue to suffer.

At least Myers is consistent. He's as deceptive with church finances as he is with predator priests

America's Catholic bishops steadfastly refuse to say even a peep about their colleagues who continue to endanger kids and protect predators. Let's hope at least a few of them have the decency to decry their colleague Myers for his latest irresponsible extravagance that rubs salt into the already-deep and still-fresh wounds of hundreds of victims and thousands of parishioners. 

(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 15,000 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]), Mark Crawford (732-632-7687, [email protected])