PA- Priest with abuse allegations promoted, SNAP responds
For immediate release: Friday, March 14, 2014
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A Catholic priest who has been accused of molesting boys in Pennsylvania has been promoted to two higher positions with the church in Paraguay. We are extremely disturbed by this.
Ironically, a week ago Pope Francis whined that Catholic officials are “singled out” and “picked on” in abuse cases. This case shows why the church hierarchy deserves more scrutiny, not less, in child sex cases: because it continues to knowingly put kids in harm's way.
Fr. Carlos Urrutigoity was transferred from Pennsylvania to the South American country by former Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino.
A therapist said of Fr. Urrutigoity: "In view of the credible allegation from (a victim), his admitted practice of sleeping with boys and young men, (he) should be removed from active ministry; his faculties should be revoked; he should be asked to live privately."
Instead, a credibly accused child molesting cleric was sent to live abroad among unsuspecting families by retired Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino and is being ignored by current Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambara.
Could Catholic officials possibly act more recklessly and callously?
Transferring predator priests to different diocese or countries is dreadfully irresponsible but sadly, nothing new. It is a dangerous and self-serving practice that, just last month, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child demanded that Catholic officials stop doing.
Transferring child molesting clerics puts unsuspecting families and children at great risk.
We hope that Bishop Bambara will step up, show compassion, exercise leadership, and do everything he possibly can to prod those who saw, suspected or suffered Fr. Urrutigoity's crimes to call police, and warn Paraguay Catholic officials about this threat to children's safety.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/Argentina/#Urrutigoity
(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]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected])
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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