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The
Survivors Network of
those Abused by Priests
SNAP
Media Advisory
Giving Voice to Victims
MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WED., JULY 27
Sex Abuse Victims Want Answers On Three "Missing"
Accused Clerics
Facing Molestation Allegations, They "Disappeared"
From SF Church Web Sites
Another Priest Being Sued Now For Abuse Still Works At Local Church
SNAP Urges Levada To "Come Clean" Before Moving to Vatican
WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will prod Catholic
church officials to "come clean" about three accused abusive
clerics whose names were suddenly, recently and inexplicably removed from
church web sites. Their whereabouts are unknown.
WHEN
TODAY, Wednesday, July 27, 2:30 p.m.
WHERE
Outside Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 666 Filbert (in North Beach),
in San Francisco
WHO
Four to six clergy molestation victims who belong to SNAP, the Survivors
Network of those Abused by Priests, a support group (including the group's
national director from St. Louis)
WHY
Three Catholic clerics who face child molestation lawsuits have recently
been taken off the website of a San Francisco parish. (A fourth accused
pedophile priest who faces a similar lawsuit remains an associate pastor
there.) SNAP believes SF Archbishop William Levada should inform his flock
about whether the accused molesters still live or work at or near the
parish and what steps, if any, are being taken to safeguard children around
them.
For months, Father Harold Danielson and Brother Ernie Martinez have worked
at and have been listed as staff members at Sts. Peter and Paul church,
with the knowledge and permission of top San Francisco archdiocese officials.
Two months ago, after SNAP protest their presence at the parish, their
names disappeared from the church's web site.
Several other Catholic clerics who live near the parish are also named
as molesters in pending civil molestation lawsuits. Two of them (Father
Bernard Dabbene and Brother Sal Billante) are convicted sex offenders.
All belong to a religious order called the Salesians of Don Bosco (except
Billante, who has left the order).
Recent investigative reports in the Dallas Morning News disclosd that
the Salesians are among several Catholic orders which have moved accused
predatory priests across national borders to escape prosecution.
Levada has come under fire from for allowing the men to work and live
in his archdiocese without warning parishioners.
The other accused clerics include Father Richard Presenti, Father Larry
Lorenzoni, and Father Steve Whelan. Until May, Danielson was listed as
an associate pastor on the parish's web site. Whelan still is listed that
way.
Several of them live at the Salesian Provincial House at 1100 Franklin
Street.
SNAP is an independent, confidential self-help group of men and women
who have been sexually victimized by clergy.
Several of the lawsuits are being handled by Los Angeles attorneys Raymond
Boucher and Cheryl Buchanan. The cases against Whelan and Presente are
being handled by attorneys Rick Simons of Hayward and Larry Drivon of
Stockton.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/iteam/032305_iteam_snap.html
CONTACT
David Clohessy of St. Louis MO, SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell
Terrie Light of Hayward,SNAP Northwestern Regional Coordinator 510 517
3338
Joe Piscatelli of Martinez 925 262 3699 (abused by one of the Salesians)
Dan McNevin SNAP Bay Area Media Spokesperson 415 341 6417
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Survivors Network
of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org
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