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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

SNAP Press Release
Giving Voice to Victims

 

For immediate release:
May 5, 2005

New National Group Unites Catholics in Cleaning Up Church Hierarchy

Launches Website Exposing Widespread "Compromised Clergy" Church Crisis

Organization Includes Former Nun and Former Pastoral Associate Who Became Whistle-blowers

WHAT:
At a sidewalk news conference, a new national organization will unveil its interactive website to help Catholics learn about and remove church leaders and clergy compromised by widespread cover-ups of misconduct - adult sexual, financial, and employee rights - in the church.

WHEN:
Thursday, May 5, 1:15 p.m.

WHERE:
Outside the St. Louis archdiocese, 4445 Lindell near Sarah in the city's Central West End

WHO:
Two former Catholic church employees who were forced out by abusive priests' misconduct and/or compromised church officials, two other concerned lay Catholics, St. Louis attorney Chet Pleban, and leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

WHY:
LAMPS is a new national education and advocacy group of Catholic clergy, religious and laity united to remove clergy compromised by adult sexual exploitation, financial improprieties, employee rights abuses, and other abuses of power.

Their web site - lampsforhealing.org - contains dozens of individual profiles (with more being added every day) of clergy who are:

- compromised by their own misconduct (inappropriate adult sex, improper financial management, etc.) or

- compromised by maintaining secrecy about the misconduct of other clergy.

The profiles include St. Louis' Archbishop Raymond Burke and at least one other Missouri priest.

The former nun and campus chaplain has a federal discrimination suit against her employers - a Catholic university and Pennsylvania diocese - which retaliated against her for trying to prevent priests' sexual harassment and misconduct of others.

LAMPS' founder has filed a federal EEOC and Missouri Human Rights complaint against the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese for her pastor's sexual harassment and retaliation against her.

LAMPS' leaders are convinced that the cover-up of clergy adult sexual and financial misconduct is widespread, hurting the healthy and mature leadership of many bishops and priests.

CONTACT:
Glenna McKitterick of Branson, LAMPS president 417-334-4593 or 417-676-0545 cell
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790 cell



Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org