For immediate release: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

SNAP comments on new Spokane bishop

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790 cell)

Cupich isn’t the worst, but he’s certainly not the best among a largely reckless, callous and deceitful group of US bishops. Two dozen American prelates have at least disclosed the names of predator priests in their dioceses, and posted those names on church web sites. Cupich, sadly, isn’t among them. Nor has he, as head of the bishops’ abuse committee, pushed for this kind of simple, inexpensive prevention step.

Frankly, we wish he would spend more time protecting children and exposing predators, and less time praising the few, vague and mostly ineffective alleged reforms that US bishops adopted eight years ago.

For immediate release: Monday, Dec. 8, 2008

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell)

Bishop Cupich issued an insulting news release today, bragging about the belated, begrudging and minimally helpful sex abuse pledges adopted by America’s bishops in 2002 and only sporadically honored since then.

Cupich, like most of his colleagues, focuses strictly on the ‘bad apple’ predator priests, while ignoring the corrupt barrel and duplicitous men who over see it. The Catholic church’s on-going sex abuse and cover up crisis stems less from the crimes of pedophiles and more from the deceit of bishops.

Cupich also tries to minimize the scandal and distance himself from it by stressing that only 12 alleged predator priests were ‘caught’ last year. He knows full well it almost always takes decades before deeply wounded child victims find the strength, courage and understanding to come forward and disclose the horrific trauma they’ve experienced.

This public relations gesture is a very disappointing first step for the new head of the bishops’ sex abuse committee. We hope that in the future, Cupich will adopt real reforms instead of bragging about largely meaningless ones.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 22 years and have more than 9,000 members across the country. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Peter Isely (414-429-7259,) Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell)