Suspended bishop is still working, SNAP responds
SNAP Orthodox is appalled that suspended Archbishop Seraphim Storheim, a credibly accused child molester, is visiting a Canadian church this weekend.
Less than a year ago, the Winnipeg police issued an arrest warrant for Storheim. He turned himself into the police in Edmonton last November. Storheim was questioned by the authorities and released after posting a $500 bond and surrendering his passport. The terms of his release also forbade Storheim from having contact with minors. The case involves the abuse of two ten year old boys.
At a special meeting on November 30, 2010, the Orthodox Church in America’s synod of bishops suspended Storheim.
Yet now, he is allowed to travel across the country to visit an All Saints of Alaska Orthodox Church in Victoria BC this weekend. (http://www.allsaintsofalaska.ca/) A copy of the announcement is below.
This further hurts those who are already suffering – wounded clergy sex abuse victims and concerned laity who were led to believe that clergy sex crimes and cover ups were being taken seriously by the Orthodox Church in America officials. We also question whether this violates the conditions of his release on bond that forbids having contact with minors.
Orthodox Church in America: http://oca.org/
(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:
SNAP Orthodox http://www.pokrov.org/
Cappy Larson 415 252-7969 cell 415 637-2006
Melanie Sakoda 925 283-7945 cell 925-708-6175
Below is the announcement of Storheim's visit tomorrow:
From: REMOVED
> To: [email protected] , [email protected]
> Subject: [Parish] Visit of Vladyka Seraphim
> Dear Brothers and Sisters of All Saints,
Vladyka Seraphim will be visiting our parish on September 23rd. He will
be with us for Vespers at 6:00pm to celebrate the Synaxis of All Saints of
Alaska. We will then have a dinner at the parish with Vladkyka. This
will be a potluck dinner. Fr. Michael will also be present and serving
the vespers. Fr. Larry will be arriving from Alberta on the 23rd and is
planning to be at vespers.
We'd like to make this an organized potluck so please volunteer for
for
> 1. Salad
> 2. Main Dish (Vegetarian and Meat)
> 3. Drinks
> 4. Dessert
> The following day, the 24th will be the official installation of Fr.
Larry as our Priest. Following the divine liturgy, we will have a
celebratory lunch to officially welcome Fr. Larry and Mat. Myra.
> This will also be a potluck lunch.
> Fr. Larry will be here for this, but probably not Mat, Myra
> Please sign up for
> 1. Salad
> 2. Cheese tray
> 3. Meat tray
> 4. Drinks
> 5. Main dish
> 6. vegetarian
> 7. drinks
> 8. dessert
> Please remember that Vladyka does not eat meat (fish and shell fish are
fine), and is on a low carbohydrate diet. Things like quinoa that have a
high protein content are acceptable for him to eat. Also Fr. Larry is on
a restricted diet. He does not eat gluten (wheat), dairy, cane-sugar, or
red meat.
> See you soon,
> Don't forget that the semi-agm is planned for October 02, after the
liturgy.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
Showing 5 comments
Winnipeg Free Press – PRINT EDITION
In Brief
By: Staff Writer
Posted: 09/26/2011 1:00 AM
THE case of an Orthodox archbishop facing sex-crime charges in Manitoba is headed back to court for a preliminary inquiry later this fall.
Archbishop Seraphim Storheim was the highest-ranking Canadian cleric in the Orthodox Church of America until church officials suspended him in November 2010.
Winnipeg police laid charges following the church’s suspension.
The preliminary inquiry is scheduled for two days in mid-November, Storheim’s lawyer, Jeff Gindin, said Friday.
The charges against Storheim came after a lengthy police investigation into allegations the former Winnipeg cleric sexually abused two teenage boys 30 years ago.
A Chicago-based advocacy group for victims of sexual abuse that is monitoring the case said in an email Friday the archbishop may be violating his bail conditions — to avoid contact with minors — by visiting a church this weekend in Victoria, B.C.
Not likely, according to his lawyer.
Gindin said his client is restricted to two addresses, one in Edmonton and another in Ottawa. One is his home and the other is his sister’s house.
Even to visit his sister, the cleric must submit dates of the trip through his lawyer before the court approves the travel.
“He’s got certain bail conditions, and as far as I know, he’s abiding by every one of them,” Gindin said.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/130549163.html