SNAP Calls on Archbishop William Lori to Immediately Update Credibly Accused Clergy List
(For Immediate Release April 5, 2023)
More than 30 Maryland clerics, brothers, sisters, and lay personnel accused of child sexual abuse who are named in the new Maryland Attorney General report, are NOT on the Baltimore Archdiocesan list of those "credibly accused." We are appalled and concerned.
We call on Archbishop William Lori to immediately:
- add these names to his list,
- publicly explain his recklessness and secrecy, and
- stop making hair-splitting and self-serving distinctions, such as refusing to list deacons, and
- start listing ALL Catholic church and school staffers who assault boys and girls, regardless of their titles status or positions.
The names provided by the Maryland Attorney General but NOT by the Archbishop include Fr. Louis John Affrica, Stephen Brotzman (teacher), Fr. Robert C. Callahan, Fr. Francis Ernst, Fr. Terence Evans, Fr. Alphonsus Figlewski, Deacon Joseph Firlie, Sr. Theonella (Mary Margaret) Flood, Msgr. Robert Hiltz, Fr. William Jameson, Fr. Albert Julian, Deacon John Justice, Fr. Thomas M. Kelly, Fr. Joseph W. Krach, Deacon Thomas Kuhl, Fr. David Leary, Msgr. William McCrory, Patrick McIntyre (teacher), John Merzbacher (teacher), Fr. Joseph V. Messer, Br. Eugene Morgan, Br. William Morgan, Fr. John Mountain, Fr. Alan Nagle, Deacon Leo O'Hara, Eric Price (teacher), Fr. Albert (Pete) Stallings, Fr. Cuthbert Sullivan, Br. Thomas Tomasunas, Fr. Francis Wagner, Msgr. Thomas A. Whelan, Msgr. Roger K. Wooden, Sr. Francis Marie Yocum, and Msgr. Henry Francis Zerhusen.
A handful of omissions by Archbishop Lori might be understandable, maybe if a priest faces only one accuser from very long ago and no Church records are available. But for the sake of still-suffering victims and still-vulnerable children and still-distraught parishioners, the Archbishop should err on the side of being more transparent, not less.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications ([email protected], 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 35 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