Vatican - Swiss Guard says he was fondled by Catholic official: SNAP responds

For immediate release: Monday, January 6, 2014

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

A former member of the Swiss Guard says that he was fondled by a high ranking Catholic official in Rome and that cardinals, bishops and other clergy made sexual advances towards him roughly two dozen times.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534513/Former-member-Swiss-Guard-says-regularly-asked-sex-gay-lobby-bishops-cardinals-priests-serving-Vatican.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

We’re saddened but not surprised by this. We feel sorry for this man and the abuse and harassment he had to endure. And we are grateful he’s joined the tens of thousands of brave victims who are exposing the corruption in the Catholic hierarchy. 

We encourage him – and others who were sexually exploited, harassed or exploited by clergy, whether as kids or adults – to get professional help and keep speaking up so that others might be protected from predatory church officials.

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])