NJ School District Cannot Fire Former Priest Who Impregnated Young Girl
For immediate Release: April 29, 2019
We are absolutely appalled that an ex-clergyman who got a teen pregnant must be given back his job at a middle school. We call on state and Church officials to do all they can to stop this dangerous move.
Joseph Michael DeShan is on the list of “credibly accused” clerics published by Bridgeport Catholic officials. There appears to be no dispute that the former clergyman began a sexual relationship with a 14 or 15 year old girl in 1988, impregnating her the following year. The teacher took a leave of absence from the priesthood at that point and, in 1994, he was defrocked by the Vatican. Church officials have paid at least one settlement on the ex-clergyman’s behalf.
Still, despite all of this, Mr. DeShan will apparently head back to the classroom in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, soon. Why? Because an arbitrator ruled that school administrators who suspended him "provided no proof that he did anything wrong while he’s been employed in their schools."
This decision not only flies in the face of common sense, it may also endanger more innocent lives.
Catholic officials in both New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as school officials, should use every means available to seek out others who may have been hurt by the former priest, or who may have witnessed or suspected abuse, and encourage them to call police. With more information, it is possible that there may well be crimes for which Mr. DeShan could still be prosecuted. We hope that law enforcement officials in both states will to do likewise.
Finally, we beg New Jersey school and political officials to see what kind of administrative or legislative reforms must be made to prevent this kind of dangerous decision in the future.
CONTACT: Mark Crawford, SNAP New Jersey ([email protected], 732-632-7687) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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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