Victims blast Detroit archdiocese
Victims blast Detroit archdiocese
They ‘out’ 30 more priests publicly accused of abuse
Most have received little or no attention in Michigan
The clerics primarily abused elsewhere but were also here
Group says local church officials are being 'reckless & secretive’
SNAP: “They put kids at risk by not giving names of ALL predators”
WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose the names of 30 publicly accused child molesting clerics who
---are or were in the Detroit area but
---are NOT on the Detroit archdiocese’s list of ‘credibly accused' clerics, and
---have received little no public or media attention in Michigan.
They will also
--urge Detroit Catholic officials to give more details about ALL accused priests, and
--beg anyone ‘who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups’ to call law enforcement and their support group
WHEN
Wednesday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
Outside the Detroit archdiocesan headquarters,12 State St. (corner of Griswold) in Detroit
WHO
Two-three members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) including a Missouri man who was the group’s former long time executive director
WHY
1) A few weeks ago, the Midwest Jesuit Province released names of 'credibly accused' abusers.
Eleven of them spent time in the Detroit archdiocese but are NOT on Detroit’s list of 'credibly accused' clerics: Fr. Harry J. Barton, Fr. David C. Bayne, Fr. Ignatius M. Burrill, Fr. James A. Condon, Fr. Michael E. Dorrler, Fr. Mark A. Finan, Fr. James F. Gates, Fr. J. Robert Koch, Fr. Phillip T. Mooney, Fr. Wilton L. Skiffington and Fr. Charles E. Sullivan.
SNAP has also discovered and is disclosing names and information about 19 other publicly accused abusive clerics who also spent time in the Detroit area. They too have also been omitted from the Detroit archdiocesan “accused” list.
--Fifteen are Capuchins: Fr. Arthur Cooney, Fr. Leopold Gleissner, Fr. Matthew Gottschalk, Fr. Clarence Rudolph Grosser, Fr. Donald (John Baptist) Kurcz, Fr. Mathew Anthony Migan, Fr. Austin Schlaefer, Fr. Wendelin (Leslie) Schafer, Fr. Joseph Smetana, Fr. Robert Spader, Fr. Francis Sparacino, Fr. Kenneth Stewart, Fr. James C. Walsh, Fr. James C. Wolf and Fr. Hilary Zach.
--Two are Sulpicians: Fr. Leonard R. Foisy and Fr. John P. Mcmanus,
--Two are diocesan priests: Fr. John Ambrose Newton of Gallup NM and Fr. James F. Rapp of Salt Lake UT.
For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, SNAP wants all of them to be added, along with every proven, admitted and accused priest, nun, seminarian, brother, monk and church staff member. The group says it’s “the best, quickest way to help kids be safer and help victims feel vindicated.” Their photos, whereabouts and work histories should also be provided, SNAP says
More details about these 30 publicly accused clerics will be provided at the news conference. Most of it comes from BishopAccountability.org and/or AndersonAdvocates.com and/or court records and/or mainstream media stories.
2) SNAP is also urging all victims, witnesses and whistle blowers to “protect kids, expose wrongdoers, deter cover ups and get healing by seeking help from independent sources like police, therapists and support groups like ours.” The group especially encourages those with information or suspicions about clergy sex crimes and cover ups to call local law enforcement and Michigan’s attorney general who is investigating church officials.
3) SNAP is also urging other religious orders to permanently and prominently post on their websites the names, photos, whereabouts and work histories of all proven, admitted and accused abusive clerics.
CONTACT:
David Clohessy 314-443-5915 or 314-566-9790, [email protected], Zach Hiner 517-974-9009, [email protected]