For immediate release: Monday, June 13, 2011

4 Boston predator priests are defrocked ; SNAP responds

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

We’re disappointed, but not surprised, that O’Malley failed to urge those who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes by these clerics to call police. That should be O’Malley’s top priority – keeping predators away from kids.

We beg anyone with information about these pedophile priests to call law enforcement immediately, so that they might be prosecuted and children might be protected.

It’s irresponsible for Catholic officials to recruit, educate, ordain, hire, and protect child molesting clerics, then cut them loose when public pressure becomes too great. We believe the church hierarchy should insist that predator priests live in remote, secure, independently run treatment centers so that they can get therapy and kids can be safer.

We also believe that O’Malley should spend less effort defrocking predators and more effort warning parents about them. It’s likely each of these dangerous men now live among completely unsuspecting parents and vulnerable kids, in part because O’Malley still refuses to post the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused predator priests on his website.

(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 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. 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, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]

June 13, 2011 - Archdiocese of Boston Announces Robert F. Daly, John Keane, Robert Knapp and Benjamin McMahon Are No Longer in the Clerical State

(Braintree, Massachusetts) June 13, 2011… The Archdiocese of Boston today announced that the Holy See has determined that Robert F. Daly, John Keane, Robert Knapp, and Benjamin McMahon are no longer in the clerical state. Robert F. Daly, Robert Knapp, and Benjamin McMahon sought, through a voluntary process, to be removed from the clerical state. John Keane was dismissed from the clerical state. As a result of the Holy See’s decisions, they may no longer function in any capacity as priests, with the exception of offering absolution to the dying. The four men have not received any financial support from the Archdiocese in more than two decades.

Robert F. Daly, ordained in 1967, has not had faculties to minister publicly since 1984 when he began a leave of absence. After leaving ministry, he was accused of sexually abusing minors occurring in the 1970s and early 1980s.

In 2008, John Keane pleaded guilty to one charge of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 as well as three charges of assault and battery on a child. At the time the accusations were made, Keane had not served in the Archdiocese for nearly 20 years having been absent without permission since 1989. Keane was ordained in 1969.

Robert Knapp, ordained in 1965, was first accused of sexually abusing a minor in 1985. He has been absent without permission from the Archdiocese since 1988.

Benjamin McMahon has not had faculties since 1986 when he was granted a leave of absence. He was first accused of sexually abusing a minor in 1991 and has been suspended since that time.

In addition to announcing the Holy See’s decisions, Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley expressed his continued prayers for all persons impacted by the painful reality of sexual abuse of children and young people by clergy. Cardinal Seán also encouraged any person in need of pastoral assistance or support to contact the Archdiocese’s Office of Pastoral Support and Outreach by calling (781) 794-2581.

About the Archdiocese of Boston’s Child Protection Efforts

Since his installation, Cardinal Seán has made it a priority to create safe environments in the Archdiocese’s churches and schools and to continue to support all people impacted by clergy sexual abuse. The policies and practices of the Archdiocese include working with law enforcement agencies and community professionals to report and investigate instances of sexual abuse, annually screening approximately 60,000 clergy, employees and volunteers, and implementing effective prevention training programs. In addition, through the Office of Pastoral Support and Outreach (OPSO), the Archdiocese continues to reach out to those who have been harmed by the tragic reality of clergy sexual abuse in order to provide pastoral help and counseling services to survivors and their families.

http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=20704