PA--Victims applaud federal probe of Catholic officials
For immediate release: Friday, April 1, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
We’re grateful that a US attorney in Pennsylvania is talking about using RICO laws against Catholic officials.
This law, known as RICO, the Racketeering Influence and Corruption Organization Act, usually applies to criminal organizations. But we believe it can and should be used against bishops and other church staff who repeatedly endanger kids, deceive parishioners, move predators, hide evidence and refuse to call law enforcement about known and suspected clergy child sex crimes and cover ups.
We agree with U.S. Attorney David Hickton who said that people have “a hollow sense that there is justice that has not been dispensed” in clergy sex abuse and cover up cases. That “sense” is based on reality. Despite more than 6,400 accused child molesting US Catholic clerics, only two US Catholic officials have been convicted for concealing their crimes.
We urge others in law enforcement to consider RICO and other charges – endangering kids, obstructing justice, destroying evidence, intimidating victims, threatening whistleblowers and failure to report abuse – against current and former Catholic officials who put their comfort and careers ahead of the safety of innocent kids and vulnerable adults.
And we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions – especially in Altoona– to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling journalists, get justice by calling attorneys, and get comfort by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 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 (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected])
U.S. Attorney: Clergy Accused Of Sexual Abuse Could Face Consequences Under Civil RICO Statute
March 31, 2016 9:57 PM By Andy Sheehan
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The grand jury report sent shockwaves through the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese with revelations that 50 priests and religious leaders allegedly sexually abused hundreds of child victims.
But because of the statute of limitations, no criminal charges were filed.
“It leaves people with a hollow sense that there is justice that has not been dispensed or justice denied,” said U.S. Attorney David Hickton.
But now, Hickton says a federal investigation may go further than state prosecutors in seeking justice.
He tells KDKA that his office may address . . .
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
Showing 3 comments
While the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette still chooses to partner with the Pittsburgh Diocese and the Zappala Crime Family/Terrorist Group and allow their reporters to continue to cover-up for the crimes of dysfunctional sex freaks; we continue to gain ground.
All the national news reports are focusing in on the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese where synchronized crime destroyed the lives of innocent children. I coined the phrase synchronized crime to describe the absolute loyalty and submission of government and law enforcement officials to a criminal enterprise. In this case the criminal enterprise is the Roman Coward Church.
There are eight diocese in the Commonwealth of PA. Grand juries have proven two out of two to be worthless cesspools filled with dysfunctional sex freaks.
We have six more to investigate. I strongly suggest we start with the Pittsburgh Diocese; the others will tumble one after the other.
I’m asking all my friends on facebook to do whatever it is that you do best to expose the Pittsburgh Diocese.
Keep in mind, once the Pittsburgh Diocese falls, the rest of the church goes with it.
The Roman Coward Church is not going to change until we expose the Pittsburgh Diocese.