NJ- Catholic officials let predator secretly be near kids but no one’s punished
For immediate release: Monday, July 22, 2013
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A Newark archdiocesan priest secretly let a suspended predator priest live in a parish across the street from an elementary school. He did so with the approval of his church supervisors.
Yet no one is being punished. The priest is just being moved to a new parish. The supervisors aren’t even being identified. And the predator remains on the payroll.
Without consulting with or telling St. Joseph’s parishioners, Fr. Thomas Iwanowski let Fr. Chabak live in the rectory for five months. Fr. Chabak is a credibly accused child molester. He’s suspended from ministry.
So Newark Catholic officials again quietly put kids in danger.
That’s incredibly reckless and callous.
As he’s done time and time before, Newark’s Archbishop John Myers did nothing until this inexcusable move became public. And when it did, Myers did next to nothing.
He’s moving Iwanowski to a new parish.
No wrongdoer is facing real consequences. And we don’t even know who some of the wrongdoers are. Did Myers himself personally tell Iwanowski it was OK to let a suspended pedophile priest live in a parish? Or was it another archdiocesan supervisor?
It’s completely bogus for Myers to claim, though one of his public relations professionals, that Catholic officials were acting “compassionately.” The church is an enormous global institution. Myers could have found hundreds of housing options for a child molesting cleric besides putting him in a parish. What's more, like other pedophile priests who can’t yet be criminally charged, Chabak belongs in a remote, secure, independently-run treatment center far away from children. But Myers refuses to do this, too.
And Chabak belongs on a thorough, public list of all proven, admitted and credibly accused predator priests in the Newark Archdiocese. But Myers refuses to do this, too.
How easy it would be for Myers to announce today “I’m demoting and disciplining a pastor who put kids in harm’s way and those in my inner circle who approved this recklessness.” But tragically, that won’t happen. And as a result, more recklessness will happen.
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
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