For Second Time, Cardinal Dolan Keeps Accused Priest on the Job
A New York City priest is still on the job even though seven men say he molested them. This kind of inaction only further endangers children and vulnerable adults and we call on Vatican officials to punish and demote him.
Making matters worse, this is the second time in the past year that Cardinal Dolan kept the vulnerable in harm’s way. Just six months ago it was revealed that Fr. Donald Timone, himself twice-accused of abuse, was able to stay on the job even though Catholic officials paid one of his victims a six figure settlement.
In today’s case, Monsignor John Paddack is accused of molesting eight boys between 1984-2002. Lawyers for the survivors of Msgr. Paddock said that Cardinal Dolan first learned of the charges back in 2012, according to the Daily News. Yet Paddock was allowed to remain in ministry, in a move that defies common sense.
Msgr. Paddack is less the issue now than Cardinal Dolan. Most credibly accused predator priests profess innocence. And thanks to the courage of these eight men, the public, police, prosecutors, parishioners and parents are now warned about Msgr. Paddack.
But top Catholic officials must take action now against Dolan, the head of the second largest archdiocese in the US, who has repeatedly put children and vulnerable adults in harms way. Under Pope Francis’ new edict and the new system for reporting developed by church officials in Baltimore earlier this month, Cardinal Dolan would be one of the men tasked with investigating accusations against other bishops.
Given Cardinal Dolan's actions in the past year, we do not believe he would be up to this task. The Vatican should remove him from his post and send a clear and strong message that this kind of inaction will not be tolerated.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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 1 comment