OH-- SNAP responds: Pittsburgh Deacon arrested for child porn worked in Steubenville diocese.

For immediate release: Monday, April 23, 2018

On April 10th, Deacon Rosendo "Ross" F. Dacal, a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, was arrested on charges he sent sexually explicit messages and photos to a police officer posing online as a teenage boy. 

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/04/11/pittsburgh-catholic-diocese-deacon-child-pornograph-arrest/
Recently SNAP learned that Mr. Dacal also worked in the Steubenville diocese. He taught Spanish at Catholic Central High School from 1969-74. 

https://content.parishesonline.com/uploads/listing/1c/38/1c38d62efc25ee726913b7c9af5b810ce2b8a4ba/publications/source/Register%20April%2020.pdf
(See page 5, " Pittsburgh’s bishop pledges full cooperation in arrest of permanent deacon") 
Viewing, possessing, distributing, and/or creating child porn is a serious crime, and for good reason. The children in the photos are being sexually abused. This causes lifelong pain and suffering for those innocent children. Also, it's not uncommon for those who possess child porn to sexually abuse children. 

Therefore we urge Bishop Monforton to take the additional step of reaching out directly to the alumni of Catholic Central High School for the years 1969-74. People who have been harmed in a Church setting are highly unlikely to still be involved in the Church. 

Also, Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton, in publishing information about Mr. Dacal's arrest, wrote that "that "Any victim harmed by a priest or, anyone serving on behalf of  the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Steubenville" should report to the Church. 

https://content.parishesonline.com/uploads/listing/1c/38/1c38d62efc25ee726913b7c9af5b810ce2b8a4ba/publications/source/Register%20April%2020.pdf
(See page 5, " Pittsburgh’s bishop pledges full cooperation in arrest of permanent deacon") 

Years of experience have taught us that anyone who is victimized in a Church setting should report immediately to law enforcement, rather than to that community. 

It is never too late to report, no matter how long ago the abuse may have occurred. Speaking up is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and protecting others. 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org ) 

Contacts - Judy Jones ( 636-433-2511, [email protected]), Tim Lennon, (415-312-5820,[email protected])

SNAP Network is a GuideStar Gold Participant