Poland- First ever lawsuit against Polish Catholic Church, SNAP responds

For immediate release Thursday, February 06, 2014

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])

For the first time in its history the Polish Catholic Church is being sued by a victim of a pedophile priest. 

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/140206/polands-catholic-church-faces-first-paedophile-lawsuit

The accused priest was sent to prison in regards to this case, but the church refused to be held accountable. Poland, one of the most devout Catholic nations, has done little to protect children and work for justice in abuse cases.

We are grateful for this brave survivor for not only speaking out about his abuse, but for holding the church responsible for their dangerous actions (or inaction). We hope this gives courage to others who saw, suspect or suffered abuse to speak up.

 (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 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by those in positions of authority including priests, nuns, rabbis, bishops, Protestant ministers, Scout leaders, teachers and coaches. 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])


Showing 2 comments

  • Lani Halter
    commented 2014-02-06 15:06:26 -0600
    I (and I hope all of the people who support SNAP), will make myself focus on the “positive” in this article, and that is: Poland’s catholic church is BEING SUED FOR DAMAGES!!! Again, I say to the plaintiff, STAY BRAVE, and I pray that you are successful in your lawsuit!!!
  • Lani Halter
    commented 2014-02-06 15:02:27 -0600
    I pray that you are successful in your lawsuit.
    It seems also, stunning, that any convicted pedophile priest from the catholic church, would get such a light sentence of only two years in prison! Once again, I am appalled! I wonder if the civil authorities and sentencing judges really do not comprehend that for the victims, the effects of such heinous crimes of sexual abuse last a lifetime and often cause the victims to resort to suicide?

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