OH--In rare move, archbishop sues flock; Victims respond
For immediate release: Thursday, June 2, 2016
For more information: Dan Frondorf 513-706-7403, [email protected], David Clohessy 314-566-9790 cell,[email protected], Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]
In rare move, archbishop sues parishioners
Child sex victims welcome “more aggressive action”
But they blast Catholic officials for ignoring abuse “enablers”
SNAP: Prelate should sue or discipline those who hid child sex crimes
“Why is church money more important than our kids?” support group asks
Organization writes to head of Cincinnati archdiocese urging pursuit of “enablers”
In what’s being called “an unprecedented move,” Cincinnati’s Catholic archbishop is suing local parishioners and parish staff because they allegedly kept silent about their pastor’s theft of $1.5 million. And a victims group is urging the prelate to file similar suits against church employees who ignored or hid child sex crimes.
In March, Fr. Earl Simone pleaded guilty to aggravated theft of $1.5 million from St. Peter Church in Huber Heights. On Sunday, an apology from him was read at the parish.
And on Monday, a local television station disclosed that Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr is suing ten “John Does” at the parish who reportedly knew of or were involved in the theft but kept silent.
http://wdtn.com/2016/05/31/st-peter-priest-issues-apology-amid-civil-suit/
http://www.whio.com/news/news/crime-law/already-facing-prison-huber-priest-sued-by-archdio/nrTGn/
Leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests say they have never seen Catholic officials defrock, demote, discipline - much less sue - a single church official or member for hiding child sex crimes. (In Cincinnati, there are almost 30 publicly accused predator priests, SNAP says, which likely means that dozens or even hundreds of church staff might be guilty of ignoring or concealing abuse and should, if the archbishop’s new approach is consistently applied, be sued.)
“We’ve long said bishops refuse to punish church staff who hurt others. So at one level, we’re glad to see a tougher approach by Archbishop Schnurr,” said Dan Frondorf, SNAP’s volunteer Cincinnati leader. “But this aggressive approach should be applied to those involved in child sexual abuse, not just theft.”
“When our kids are at risk, Cincinnati Catholic officials ignore, tolerate or ‘forgive’ wrongdoers. But when it’s their money at risk, Cincinnati Catholic sue wrongdoers,” said David Clohessy, SNAP’s executive director. “If the archbishop wants to get tough, he should do so against those who hid child sex crimes.”
At the very least, SNAP says, Schnurr should hire independent investigators to determine exactly which church employees should be disciplined or sued.
SNAP is especially concerned about current and former church staff and members who may have turned a blind eye to crimes by two clerics:
-- Fr. Allen Tarlton who, according church abuse records released earlier this year, went on to work in the Cincinnati archdiocese after being accused of abuse in another state. As best SNAP can tell, there’s been no public attention or media coverage of him in the Cincy area.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2016/01_02/2016_01_19_Jean_Tribune_In_move.htm
http://www.snapnetwork.org/or_secret_records_about_ex_or_abusive_cleric_are_released
--Brother Bernard Joseph Hartman who was working near Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton when child sex abuse allegations against him. Last year, he pled guilty to molesting kids at a school in Australia. Hartman was called “a sadist” in court and accused of abusing a girl with a turkey baster. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-08/catholic-brother-a-brazen-offender-who-grossly-abused-trust/6604270
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2013/09_10/2013_09_12_Beyerlein_FormerDayton.htm
Another “enabler,” SNAP says is Bishop Daniel Conlon, a Cincinnati native and former archdiocesan chancellor who was promoted to head the Steubenville diocese and now heads the Joliet diocese. He once also chaired the US Conference of Catholic Bishops sex abuse committee.
https://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/bishop/subsectioncontent.php?secid=11&subsecid=4
Fr. Simone was ordered to serve five years in prison and repay $1.9 million to the parish. His attorney is David Williamson. Fr. Simone also worked in the Marines and in Springfield, Ohio.
According to the independent group BishopAccountability.org, there are 29 publicly accused Cincinnati area predator priests: G.R. Keith Albrecht, John B. Berning, Thomas J. Brunner, George Cooley, Ronald C. Cooper, Stanley D. Doerger, Tomas F. Feldhaus, Ellis N. Harsham, Norman Heil, Thomas R. Hopp, Walter (Vaclovas) Katarskis, David J. Kelley, James G. Kiffmeyer, Thomas A. Kuhn, Raymond E. Larger, Francis (Frank) A. Massarella, Michael Montgomery, Michael Paraniuk, Daniel Pater, David F. Reilly, Albert E. Schetter, Kenneth J. Schoettmer, Robert W. Schutte, Donald E. Shelander, Charles F. Stephney, Robert A. Stricker, Lawrence Strittmatter, Richard M. Unwin and David P. Vincent.
SNAP also says that Ohio lawmakers should reform the state’s “archaic, predator-friendly” statute of limitations, and
--beg every person “who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups.”
[email protected] – 937-293-2101, 937-293-5121
lynn hulsey 937-225-7455 - lhulsey@coxohio.com, [email protected]
St. Peter priest issues apology amid civil suit
By Kelley King - Published: May 31, 2016,
HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) — A Huber Heights priest has issued a letter of apology for stealing more than a million dollars from his own parishioners.
The letter was inserted in the St. Peter church bulletin over the weekend from former pastor Father Earl Simone. He pleaded guilty in March to aggravated theft after millions of dollars came up missing over a period of 20 years from St. Peter Church.
In the letter, Simone addresses . . .
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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