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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

SNAP Press Release
Giving Voice to Victims

 

For Immediate Release:
June 8, 2007

For More Information:
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP President 312 399 4747
David Clohessy of St. Louis SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director 314 862 7688

Sex Abuse Victims To Hold Vigil Backing Fired Catholic Principal

Woman Who Spoke of Crimes Is Off Payroll; Man Who Committed Crimes Is Not

Cardinal Forces Her To Leave School But Won’t Force Him Into Treatment Center

For 1.5 Years, Criminal & Civil Charges Have Been Pending Against Fr. McCormack

Yet He’s Still Not Mentioned On Archdiocesan Website’s List of “Credibly Accused”

And Not One Complicit Church Employee Has Been Disciplined For Cover Up, Even Now

SNAP Says Others Who Were Hurt by Molesters Or Witnessed Abuse Should Speak Up

What:
The day after a whistleblower Catholic principal was fired for criticizing Chicago’s cardinal, Catholics and clergy molestation victims will hold a half hour vigil to remember and honor

-- all current and former church members and employees who’ve quit or been fired for speaking out about clergy sex crimes and cover ups, and

-- all children who’ve been victimized by Chicago clerics, especially by Fr. Daniel McCormack

When:
Friday, June 8, 1:30 p.m.

Where:
Outside St Agatha's Catholic Church, 3147 W. Douglas Blvd in Chicago (773) 522-1354

Who:
A few child sex abuse victims who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), a few Chicago Catholics, and one or two parents of kids who attend the school where Fr. McCormack molested children.

Visuals:
The group will hold childhood photos and two posters comparing and contrasting the principal (“reported crimes, is off the church payroll”) the predator priest (“committed crimes, still on the church payroll”).

Details:
Yesterday, Barbara Westrick, an educator for 37 years, was ousted from her job as principal of Our Lady of the Westside Catholic School. She and many observers are convinced the move is retaliation for her honest public comments about the deception archdiocesan mishandling of the Fr. Daniel McCormack case.

Almost a year and a half ago, McCormack was criminally charged and civilly sued for molesting several boys. Chicago’s Catholic community was roiled by revelations that church officials refused to suspend McCormack from active ministry despite a) his being arrested, b) multiple abuse reports and c) church documents showing that McCormack had been repeatedly accused of abuse for years.

Despite a damaging internal church probe that showed the “failure of various archdiocesan departments,” not a single church employee has been disciplined or even censured for their role or secrecy in the McCormack case.

Most of the group wants Cardinal Francis George to

-- discipline even one of the church officials who enabled McCormack to keep molesting,

-- force McCormack to live in a secure treatment center (instead of with relatives), and

-- list McCormack on his archdiocesan list of ‘credibly accused’ child molesting clerics.

(Even now, one year later, McCormack is not listed on the archdiocese’s list of ‘substantiated sex abuse allegations’ against priests)

SNAP urges anyone who suspected, witnessed or experienced abuse by clerics to come forward.

McCormack, 42, was ordained in 1994 and worked at St. Alibe church, St. Joseph Seminary (formerly Niles College)and Holy Family church.

 


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