SNAP in Rome

In Geneva

Barbara Blaine, Swiss mobile +41 076 641 89 92, U.S. cell +1 312 399 4747, [email protected], Megan Peterson, Swiss mobile, +41 076 642 15 53, [email protected]  

New Vatican panel must hold hearings and denounce bishops - SNAP statement 

New Vatican abuse panel to hold 1st meeting - details of the third SNAP event in Rome, April 30, 2014 

Francis should extradite Polish Archbishop or reverse himself - SNAP statement   

Victims hold rooftop candlelight vigil in Rome - details of the second SNAP event in Rome, April 25 2014

Victims plead with Vatican officials - details of the first SNAP event in Rome earlier today, April 25 2014

--Here are some SNAP statements re JPII sainthood:

Open letter to victims, witnesses & whistleblowers on eve of JPII sainthood from SNAP (April 25, 2014)

Rome- Papal PR man desperately defends sainthood (April 25, 2014)

Papal sainthood encourages wrongdoing, says Austrian victim (April 25, 2014)  

SNAP blasts beatification of Pope John Paul II (April 2011)

SNAP responds to Pope John Paul II’s canonization (October 2013)

Rome- Victims upset about papal sainthood (March 2014)

NOTE – UPCOMING SNAP EVENT IN EUROPE

A few SNAP members from several nations will be in Geneva from April 30 through May 7 for a hearing on May 5 and 6 before the United Nations Committee Against Torture, which will consider whether Vatican officials are violating or complying with an international treaty regarding torture.

http://ccrjustice.org/newsroom/press-releases/vatican-summoned-report-un-committee-torture

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_ccr_filed_another_un_complaint_vs_vatican

http://ccrjustice.org/pdf/CCR_SNAP_Shadow_Report_apr2014.pdf

For details about the two Rome events, please contact:

–SNAP staff: Barbara Blaine (in Rome), European cell +39 366 1160224, U.S. cell +1 312 399 4747, Rome hotel- +39 06 598591;   [email protected], Miguel Hurtado (in Rome) +44 7787 638245, Nicky Davis (in Rome) European cell +39 388 9068750, [email protected], David Clohessy (in Missouri) +1 314 645 5915 home, +1 314 566 9790 cell, [email protected] or Barbara Dorris (in Missouri) +1 314 503 0003 cell, [email protected] or the SNAP office in Chicago at +1 312 455 1499, [email protected]g or [email protected]

There are also dozens of local SNAP volunteer leaders on our website.

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SNAP FACT SHEET: Catholic wrongdoers are praised, not punished

Name of wrongdoer: now retired Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia

What he's accused of: Prosecutors say he concealed dozens of cases of clergy abuse and kept dozens of predators in parishes just a few years ago.

How's he's being honored: He is a featured speaker at the Catholic Men Servant Leaders annual conference in Lexington, Kentucky. Even after harsh grand jury reports blasting him and his colleagues, Pope Benedict sent Rigali to eastern Europe to represent the Vatican and church events. http://www.snapnetwork.org/ky_controversial_cardinal_to_speak_at_event

Where he is now: Retired and living in Knoxville Tennessee

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Name of wrongdoer: now retired Cardinal Edward Egan of New York City

What he's accused of: Egan has been accused of refusing to remove priests accused of sexual abuse when he was bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport from 1988 to 2000.

How's he's being honored: He was recently invited to celebrate mass at the Pueri Cantores Children’s Choir Festival, held at St. Ignatius of Loyola Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. http://www.snapnetwork.org/abuse_survivors_group_wants_egan_mass_for_youths_canceled

Where he is now: Retired

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Name of wrongdoer: Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles

What he's accused of: Roughly 23,000 pages maintained by the archdiocese and various religious orders regarding sex abuse were ordered to be made public. The documents, which he fought in court for years, reveal that his concerns were more about the scandal that would derail the church and his agenda rather than the protection of children. http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2010_press_releases/120310_la_catholic_cardinal_should_be_disinvited_snap_says.htm

How's he's being honored: He appeared publicly with and met privately with Pope Francis in Rome in January. He also spoke at a recent Religious Education Congress in California.

Where he is now: Retired in California.

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Name of wrongdoer: Monsignor Jerome Schmit in Toledo, Ohio

What he's accused of: Interrupted a 1980 police interrogation of Fr. Gerald Robinson for murder of a nun.

How's he's being honored: Msgr. Schmit CYO Athletic Complex and honorary street sign near the Mud Hens’ downtown ballpark naming it “Monsignor Jerome Schmit Way.”
http://www.snapnetwork.org/oh_victims_seek_action_about_2_priests

Where he is now: Deceased

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Name of wrongdoer: Bishop Anthony O'Connell of Knoxville, Tennessee & later Palm Beach, Florida.

What he's accused of: He's an admitted child molester

How's he's being honored: A building in Knoxville is/was named after him.

Where he is now: Deceased

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Name of wrongdoer: Msgr. Jerome Schmidt

What he's accused of: interrupted police interview with Fr Gerald Robinson in regard to murder of nun in Toledo.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2006/05/06/Police-grilled-on-holes-in-probe-of-nun-s-killing.html

How's he's being honored: Toledo street named after him

http://www.toledofreepress.com/2007/07/06/snap-sign-dishonors-pahl/

Where he is now: deceased

http://toledodiocese.org/images/uploads/page_assets/CYO/History/2015msgrschmitserviceawardrecipients.pdf

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Name of wrongdoer: Msgr. Robert A Brown

What he's accused of: Sexual abusing a boy in Woodsfield, Ohio

http://home.catholicweb.com/diosteub/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=176116

How's he's being honored: A building is named after him: The Brown Center, Woodsfield, Ohio near St Sylvester's school and church

Where he is now: deceased 1991

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Name of wrongdoer: Cardinal Bernard Law

What he's accused of: covered up sexual abuse committed by priests in Boston Archdiocese

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Law

How's he's being honored: Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in 2004

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blaw.html

Where he is now: Rome

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Name of wrongdoer:   Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese in Missouri

What he's accused of: He was criminally convicted for refusing to report suspected child abuse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Finn_%28bishop%29

How's he's being honored: Still running the KC-St Joe Diocese in good standing

http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/15/4826100/kansas-city-catholics-urge-pope.html