WA--Controversy continues over two Seattle predator priests

For immediate release: Wednesday, Nov. 19

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

Controversy continues to swirl around decisions by Seattle Catholic officials that victims and concerned parishioners consider deceitful, hurtful and reckless.

Today, the National Catholic Reporter writes about the recent cases of Fr. Harold Quigg and the defrocked and recently deceased Fr. David Jaeger.   

Parishioners link the two cases, “viewing both as indicative of a lack of archdiocesan diligence in regard to priests found to be credibly accused of sexual abuse of children,” NCR reports.

Regarding Quigg: It’s not enough to say “oops, we let a credibly accused predator priest keep ministering.” Someone must be disciplined. Otherwise, nothing changes.

Regarding Jaegar: Honoring admitted predators also discourages other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers from reporting offenders and preventing crimes. This kind of selfish, callous church event is one reason clergy sex crimes and cover ups keep happening.

Here’s the bottom line: Clerics can make it harder or easier for people to disclose suspected child sex crimes. The two or three dozen clerics involved in these controversies are making it harder.

What will Archbishop Peter Sartain do to discipline the 20 priests and four nuns who were involved in Jaeger’s funeral and those who knew about but concealed Quigg’s wrongdoing? That's the way you prevent future hurtful events like this.
And what will the clerics involved do to mitigate the damage and hurt they've caused? That's what you do if you're really sorry for causing pain.

More policies and protocols are just public relations posturing. Demoting those who cause damage – to innocent kids, vulnerable adults, wounded victims and trusting parishioners – that’s real reform.

(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 25 years and have more than 18,000 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 Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])