Two new Memphis area predator priests identified
For immediate release, September 16, 2018
Contact David Clohessy, Volunteer St. Louis SNAP leader, 314-566-9790, [email protected]
Two new predator priests identified
Both worked in West Memphis
Victims group wants 'outreach' by Catholic officials
Arkansas Catholic officials have disclosed that two previously unnamed pedophile priests worked in West Memphis. A victim support group wants church authorities in Little Rock and Memphis to seek out others who may have been hurt by the clerics.
Last week, Arkansas Bishop Anthony Taylor released names of several child molesting clerics in his state. No Tennessee bishops have released names.
On that list were two accused Arkansas priests who were at St. Michael in West Memphis. They are:
--Fr. Donald Althoff, with one known victim, worked at St. Michael's parish in West Memphis. He has since resigned and was removed from active ministry in 1995.
--Fr. Edward Mooney, with two known victims. He is deceased.
"This is a small, belated step forward," said Tim Lennon, head of the St. Louis-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "But now, Catholic officials in both Arkansas and Tennessee must aggressively seek out and help others who were hurt by these two clerics, using church websites, pulpit announcements and parish bulletins."
At least one other Tennessee predator priest, Fr. Paul Haas, worked in Arkansas. From 1964-1965, he was at Catholic High School in Little Rock (1964-1965). Catholic officials admit he had "multiple victims in Tennessee."
We urge others to speak up if they have information about the allegations against Father Charles R. (Chuck) Schmitt, or any other priest in the Erie Diocese. We also encourage Bishop Persico to go to every parish where Father Schmitt worked and beg anyone with knowledge about the charges to contact law enforcement. It is always a crime to sexually abuse a minor.
We are very encouraged that victims who are still suffering in silence and shame are coming forward, we urge them to contact police no matter how long ago it happened, not the Church.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 survivors and supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org )
Contact - Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]) David Clohessy, (314-566- 9790, [email protected]), David Brown (901-569-4500, [email protected])
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