RI--Victims prod bishop on accused priests
Victims prod RI bishop on accused priests
He’s keeping names of at least 95 accused clerics hidden
Five other predators abused elsewhere but worked in RI
Support group discloses their identities & pushes for “openness”
It says Catholic officials “endanger kids” with “continued secrecy”
Bishop should also post child molesting clerics' names, victims say
SNAP: “Roughly thirty other bishops across the US have done this”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that at least
--95 accused predator priests in Rhode Island remain hidden, and
--five predator priests who abused elsewhere also worked in RI but have attracted little or no public or media attention here.
They will also beg Providence's Catholic bishop to
--publicly reveal the names of ALL accused abusive clerics, and
–-post their names, photos, whereabouts and work histories on his diocesan website.
And they will beg anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups to call secular authorities, not church staff, and “protect kids, expose wrongdoers and start healing.”
WHEN
Friday, June 10 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, 30 Fenner St (corner of Pond St.) in Providence
WHO
Three child sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (including a Missouri man who is the organization's long time executive director)
WHY
For almost a decade, Rhode Island Catholic officials have kept hidden the names of 125 accused predator priests. SNAP wants Bishop Thomas Tobin to “protect the vulnerable and end continuing cover ups by honoring his pledges of ‘transparency’ and disclosing these names. And the group is disclosing the identities of five child molesting clerics who abused kids elsewhere but quietly worked in Rhode Island but attracted little or no attention or media coverage here.
1.Thirty five RI Catholic clerics have been publicly accused of molesting kids. (See BishopAccountability.org) But in 2007, the Providence diocese admitted in a court filing that 125 clerics have been accused overall.
SNAP wants these 95 names disclosed to parents, police, prosecutors, parishioners and the public.
2.According to court records or mainstream news outlets in other states, at least five Catholic clerics are proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesters – having hurt children outside RI but having also worked in RI. They remain largely or totally “under the radar” in Rhode Island. SNAP wants Tobin to “aggressively reach out to anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered their crimes” using church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements.
They are Fr. Joseph Rocha, Brother Shawn McEnany, Fr. Dennis P. Murphy, Fr. Donald E. Messier and Brother Roger B. Argencourt. (See Fact Sheet on Hidden RI Predator Priests at SNAPnetwork.org)
3. For “the safety of kids, the healing of victims and the recovery of the church,” SNAP also wants Bishop Tobin to release the identities of ALL child molesting clerics (proven, admitted and credibly accused) who live/lived or work/worked in the Providence diocese (which covers the whole state) and post them permanently on his web page (along with their photos, whereabouts and work histories).
Over the past three years, about 15 bishops have done this. And since 2002, a total of roughly 30 US bishops have taken this step over the past decade. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm
In January, Seattle’s archbishop posted names of 77 predator priests.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-archdiocese-posts-list-of-clergy-accused-of-sexual-assault/
Last month, bishops in Altoona PA and Baltimore MD posted predators’ names.
http://www.ajdiocese.org/node/1095
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-archdiocese-list-priests-20160509-story.html
According to an independent, Boston-based research group called BishopAccountability.org, there are 35 publicly accused Providence diocesan child molesting clerics (not including the five names SNAP is disclosing today.
CONTACT
David Clohessy of Missouri 314-566-9790, davidg[email protected], Dr. Ann Hagan Webb of Rhode Island 617-513-8442, [email protected], Anne Barrett Doyle (BishopAccountability.org) in Massachusetts 781-439-5208
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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