Sunday, Nov 9, 2008
Statement by Frank Dingle 410 744 2398 home, 443 996 8994 cell
We’re here tonight for three reasons.
The first is because of a recently complicit Cardinal, a Cardinal who heads the US bishops conference.
The second is because of a recently criminal priest, a priest who fathered kids and then molested them.
The third is because of our mission: to heal the wounded and protect the vulnerable.
1. We’re asking Cardinal Francis George of Chicago to step aside as president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. His track record on clergy sex crimes and cover ups has been markedly worse than that of his colleagues. But it is his very recent misdeeds that lead us to make this request.
In particular, we are concerned about his continuing duplicity and recklessness regarding Fr. Kenneth J. Martin, who taught and molested at a Catholic school in Baltimore’s suburbs. These aren’t allegations. They are facts. Martin pled guilty to criminal charges of sexually assaulting a boy for three years. Even now, six years after promising to be open and transparent about clergy sex crimes, George secretly keeps.
A priest who was convicted for molesting a Baltimore child now works for Cardinal Francis George, head of the Chicago archdiocese and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to, news accounts in Illinois last month. Despite this, and other recent egregious mishandling of child sex cases and cover ups in Chicago, George will chair tomorrow’s annual national meeting of 200+ American Catholic bishops. SNAP wants him to resign.
From 1977-1980, Fr. Kenneth J. Martin repeatedly molested a teenaged boy. Martin was teaching at the school the boy attended - Loyola Blakefield Catholic High School in suburban Baltimore. In December 2001, Martin pled guilty to the crimes.
Despite this, in 2003, George secretly let Martin live part-time at George’s mansion in Chicago. When Martin’s employment in Chicago was disclosed publicly, George promised he would no longer work in the archdiocese. Last month, however, media sources disclosed that Martin is still on the payroll.
This is stunning recklessness and deceit by Cardinal George. He’s essentially thumbing his nose at parents, victims, children, and the ‘zero tolerance’ policy adopted by America’s bishops five years ago.
Hiding and tolerating pedophile priests in your own diocese is bad enough. But importing pedophile priests from elsewhere, especially secretly, is even worse.
It’s absurd and insulting that George’s public relations staff tries to minimize Martin’s time in Chicago. Whether Martin comes to Chicago seven times or 70 times is irrelevant. George is gambling with kids’ lives. (It takes only seconds for a child molester to shove his hand in a child’s pants.)
He’s also rubbing salt into already deep and still fresh wounds of Chicago Catholics who are still reeling from his dangerous deception and callousness with Fr. McCormack, Fr. Bennett, Fr. McGuire, and so many other predators.
For many other reasons, but most especially this one, George owes it to American Catholics and victims to step aside and If the head of the bishops conference makes such disingenuous and dangerous moves, and gets by with them, why would any other bishop take seriously his pledges to safeguard kids and be honest?
2. We’re also concerned a newly accused pedophile priest in Baltimore. He’s Fr. Fernando Cristancho. Last month, a court determined that, in the last few years, Cristancho molested two of the three kids he surreptitiously fathered. Yet he walks free, and we worry that he may molest again.
We want church officials in Maryland and Virginia, where Cristancho also worked, to make more aggressive efforts to find any victims and witnesses of Cristancho’s crime and urge them to call police.
We also want Baltimore’s archbishop to yank Cristancho’s passport so he can’t flee the country.
We beg anyone with information about Cristancho to come forward immediately, get help, and call law enforcement.
3. Finally, we’re here because our mission is to heal the wounded and protect the vulnerable.
The wounded are healed best when victims and witnesses find the courage and strength to break their silence and come forward. That, in turn, happens best when victims and witnesses are gently but lovingly prodded to come forward. This is what SNAP does every single day, and what we are doing again tonight.
The vulnerable are protected best when church officials honor their pledges and act responsibly. That, sadly, only seems to happen when concerned Catholics, determined journalists, aggressive prosecutors and caring victims pressure church officials. That’s what SNAP dose every single day, and what we are doing again tonight.
Why are we here so late? Many bishops, we’re told, arrive here Sunday night. If nothing else, we hope that a few may walk by or see us out their windows. In the church structure, they’re powerful monarchs, and we’re powerless peons. So we have no illusions that our presence here will make any real difference in their callous, deceptive and reckless behavior. Still, we feel duty bound to at least try to expose callousness, deception and recklessness when we can, especially when those behaving in this way hold themselves out to be holy and compassionate shepherds. We simply cannot, in good conscience, sit home and stay silent while prelates like George act so irresponsibly and priests like Cristancho act so criminally.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 19 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. 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
Frank Dingle 410 744 2398 home, 443 996 8994 cell, Becky Ianni 703 801 6044
Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, David Clohessy 314 566 9790
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Send the Bishops a Message news conferences in Chicago and L.A., Monday, Nov. 10th
Send the Bishops a Message news conferences in Chicago and L.A., Monday, Nov. 10th
* * *
Notice of Chicago Sidewalk News Conference on November 10th
For immediate release: November 7, 2008
New Catholic group urges parishioners “Stop Donating”
It decries continuing protection of pedophile priests by bishops
Lay people must use “power of the purse” to “force real reform”
Ongoing secrecy in Church finances is basically “taxation without representation”
Nov. 16th is first international “Withholding Sunday”
WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, Catholics will prod fellow parishioners to withhold financial donations on November 16th which will be the first nationwide, indeed worldwide Withholding Sunday, to send the bishops a message that irresponsibility and secrecy will no longer be tolerated
WHEN
Monday, Nov 10, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
Outside Chicago archdiocesan headquarters, 155 East Superior, in downtown Chicago
WHO
Three-four members of a new organization called “Send the Bishops a Message” (http://www.sendthebishopsamessage.com) and supporters from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) ; the Catholic reform group Voice of the Faithful (VOTF.org); We Are Catholics (wearecatholics.com); and the Coalition of Concerned Catholics.
WHY
Reasons we are taking this action:
---The ongoing failure of Catholic Church officials to protect our children from dangerous clerical predators
---The bishops’ failure to provide acceptable levels of stewardship for our hard-earned donations
---The refusal of Church officials to accept responsibility for their grave moral failures in the clergy sex abuse crisis. They repeatedly “apologize,” but neither admit to covering up sex crimes against children nor accept their part in the grave scandal brought down upon Catholics everywhere.
---After almost 6 years since the Dallas Charter of 2002, we are still witnessing high-level Church officials protecting both clerical sexual predators and those who shield these predators.
---Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George, the current head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), refused to follow his own sex abuse review board’s recommendation that he, George, suspend a priest, Fr, Dan Mc Cormack, who had been arrested for sexual abuse of a minor. Three months after Cardinal George’s refusal to act against Fr. McCormack, this priest molested at least three more boys in Chicago’s inner city. One of the children, prosecutors say, had been assaulted “on an almost daily” basis.
---Catholics have no elections, recall procedures, or impeachment processes that allow them to replace those who have cost parishioners so much. Withholding donations is the best way for a disenfranchised laity to send, with one voice, a message to church officials in the only language they understand–MONEY!
CONTACT – Frank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, 520 404 2489 (cell) or 520 579 9575 (home); Rick Springer 773 485 2447; Matt McCormick 847 361 3633; Therese Albrecht 708 263 3050
* * *
Notice of Los Angeles Sidewalk News Conference on November 10th
For immediate release - November 7, 2008
New Catholic group urges parishioners “Stop Donating”
It decries continuing protection of pedophile priests by bishops
Lay people must use “power of the purse” to “force real reform”
Ongoing secrecy in Church finances is basically “taxation without representation”
Nov. 16th is first international “Withholding Sunday”
WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, Catholics will prod fellow parishioners to withhold financial donations on November 16th . This first nationwide, indeed worldwide Withholding Sunday, will send the bishops a message that irresponsibility and secrecy will no longer be tolerated
WHEN
Monday, Nov 10, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE
Outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W Temple St, in downtown Los Angeles
WHO
Three-four members of a new organization called “Send the Bishops a Message” (http://www.sendthebishopsamessage.com) and supporters from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) and a Catholic reform group called Voice of the Faithful (VOTF.org)
WHY (see above press release for Chicago for this section)
CONTACT – Frank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, 520 404 2489 (cell) or 520 579 9575 (home); Debby Bodkin 949 290 5516; Mary Jane McGraw 818 917 3555; Sam Cordova 818 667 1005
* * *
Notice of Chicago Sidewalk News Conference on November 10th
For immediate release: November 7, 2008
New Catholic group urges parishioners “Stop Donating”
It decries continuing protection of pedophile priests by bishops
Lay people must use “power of the purse” to “force real reform”
Ongoing secrecy in Church finances is basically “taxation without representation”
Nov. 16th is first international “Withholding Sunday”
WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, Catholics will prod fellow parishioners to withhold financial donations on November 16th which will be the first nationwide, indeed worldwide Withholding Sunday, to send the bishops a message that irresponsibility and secrecy will no longer be tolerated
WHEN
Monday, Nov 10, 11:00 a.m.
WHERE
Outside Chicago archdiocesan headquarters, 155 East Superior, in downtown Chicago
WHO
Three-four members of a new organization called “Send the Bishops a Message” (http://www.sendthebishopsamessage.com) and supporters from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) ; the Catholic reform group Voice of the Faithful (VOTF.org); We Are Catholics (wearecatholics.com); and the Coalition of Concerned Catholics.
WHY
Reasons we are taking this action:
---The ongoing failure of Catholic Church officials to protect our children from dangerous clerical predators
---The bishops’ failure to provide acceptable levels of stewardship for our hard-earned donations
---The refusal of Church officials to accept responsibility for their grave moral failures in the clergy sex abuse crisis. They repeatedly “apologize,” but neither admit to covering up sex crimes against children nor accept their part in the grave scandal brought down upon Catholics everywhere.
---After almost 6 years since the Dallas Charter of 2002, we are still witnessing high-level Church officials protecting both clerical sexual predators and those who shield these predators.
---Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George, the current head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), refused to follow his own sex abuse review board’s recommendation that he, George, suspend a priest, Fr, Dan Mc Cormack, who had been arrested for sexual abuse of a minor. Three months after Cardinal George’s refusal to act against Fr. McCormack, this priest molested at least three more boys in Chicago’s inner city. One of the children, prosecutors say, had been assaulted “on an almost daily” basis.
---Catholics have no elections, recall procedures, or impeachment processes that allow them to replace those who have cost parishioners so much. Withholding donations is the best way for a disenfranchised laity to send, with one voice, a message to church officials in the only language they understand–MONEY!
CONTACT – Frank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, 520 404 2489 (cell) or 520 579 9575 (home); Rick Springer 773 485 2447; Matt McCormick 847 361 3633; Therese Albrecht 708 263 3050
* * *
Notice of Los Angeles Sidewalk News Conference on November 10th
For immediate release - November 7, 2008
New Catholic group urges parishioners “Stop Donating”
It decries continuing protection of pedophile priests by bishops
Lay people must use “power of the purse” to “force real reform”
Ongoing secrecy in Church finances is basically “taxation without representation”
Nov. 16th is first international “Withholding Sunday”
WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, Catholics will prod fellow parishioners to withhold financial donations on November 16th . This first nationwide, indeed worldwide Withholding Sunday, will send the bishops a message that irresponsibility and secrecy will no longer be tolerated
WHEN
Monday, Nov 10, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE
Outside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W Temple St, in downtown Los Angeles
WHO
Three-four members of a new organization called “Send the Bishops a Message” (http://www.sendthebishopsamessage.com) and supporters from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) and a Catholic reform group called Voice of the Faithful (VOTF.org)
WHY (see above press release for Chicago for this section)
CONTACT – Frank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, 520 404 2489 (cell) or 520 579 9575 (home); Debby Bodkin 949 290 5516; Mary Jane McGraw 818 917 3555; Sam Cordova 818 667 1005
Clergy sex abuse victims & Catholics to hold vigil on eve of annual US bishops meeting
Clergy sex abuse victims & Catholics to hold vigil
Candlelight event happens on eve of annual US bishops meeting
Hundreds of church’s highest prelates are gathering in Baltimore now
Victims want head of America’s bishops, Chicago’s Cardinal, to resign his post
He keeps a convicted pedophile priest who hurt Maryland boy working in his archdiocese
WHAT
Holding candles & childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will hold an evening sidewalk vigil outside the hotel where hundreds of Catholic bishops are meeting. They will
-- call on the US bishops’ conference head to resign his post over a little-publicized Baltimore abuse case,
-- urge parishioners to educate themselves about the church’s abuse and cover up scandal, &
-- beg anyone with information about a newly accused pedophile priest by a different Baltimore priest to come forward immediately, get help, and call law enforcement.
WHEN
TODAY, Sunday, 9:45 p.m. - 11:15 p. m.
WHERE
Outside the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, where hundreds of America’s Catholic bishops are meeting this week (700 Aliceanna Street, 410-385-3000)
WHO
Several clergy sex abuse victims who are leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
A priest who was convicted for molesting a Baltimore child now works for Cardinal Francis George, head of the Chicago archdiocese and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to, news accounts in Illinois last month. Despite this, and other recent egregious mishandling of child sex cases and cover ups in Chicago, George will chair tomorrow’s annual national meeting of 200+ American Catholic bishops. SNAP wants him to resign.
From 1977-1980, Fr. Kenneth J. Martin repeatedly molested a teenaged boy. Martin was teaching at the school the boy attended - Loyola Blakefield Catholic High School in suburban Baltimore. In December 2001, Martin pled guilty to the crimes.
Despite this, in 2003, George secretly let Martin live part-time at George’s mansion in Chicago. When Martin’s employment in Chicago was disclosed publicly, George promised he would no longer work in the archdiocese. Last month, however, media sources disclosed that Martin is still on the payroll.
SNAP is also concerned about a new, different Baltimore pedophile case involving Fr. Fernando Cristancho. Last month, a court determined that Cristancho molested two of the three kids he surreptitiously fathered. Yet he walks free, and SNAP worries that he may molest again.
The group wants church officials in Maryland and Virginia (where Christanco also worked) to make more aggressive efforts to find any victims and witnesses of Christancho’s crime and urge them to call police. SNAP also wants Baltimore’s archbishop to yank Christancho’s passport so he can’t flee the country.
CONTACT
Frank Dingle 410 744 2398 home, 443 996 8994 cell, Becky Ianni 703 801 6044, Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, David Clohessy 314 566 9790
Candlelight event happens on eve of annual US bishops meeting
Hundreds of church’s highest prelates are gathering in Baltimore now
Victims want head of America’s bishops, Chicago’s Cardinal, to resign his post
He keeps a convicted pedophile priest who hurt Maryland boy working in his archdiocese
WHAT
Holding candles & childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will hold an evening sidewalk vigil outside the hotel where hundreds of Catholic bishops are meeting. They will
-- call on the US bishops’ conference head to resign his post over a little-publicized Baltimore abuse case,
-- urge parishioners to educate themselves about the church’s abuse and cover up scandal, &
-- beg anyone with information about a newly accused pedophile priest by a different Baltimore priest to come forward immediately, get help, and call law enforcement.
WHEN
TODAY, Sunday, 9:45 p.m. - 11:15 p. m.
WHERE
Outside the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, where hundreds of America’s Catholic bishops are meeting this week (700 Aliceanna Street, 410-385-3000)
WHO
Several clergy sex abuse victims who are leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
A priest who was convicted for molesting a Baltimore child now works for Cardinal Francis George, head of the Chicago archdiocese and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to, news accounts in Illinois last month. Despite this, and other recent egregious mishandling of child sex cases and cover ups in Chicago, George will chair tomorrow’s annual national meeting of 200+ American Catholic bishops. SNAP wants him to resign.
From 1977-1980, Fr. Kenneth J. Martin repeatedly molested a teenaged boy. Martin was teaching at the school the boy attended - Loyola Blakefield Catholic High School in suburban Baltimore. In December 2001, Martin pled guilty to the crimes.
Despite this, in 2003, George secretly let Martin live part-time at George’s mansion in Chicago. When Martin’s employment in Chicago was disclosed publicly, George promised he would no longer work in the archdiocese. Last month, however, media sources disclosed that Martin is still on the payroll.
SNAP is also concerned about a new, different Baltimore pedophile case involving Fr. Fernando Cristancho. Last month, a court determined that Cristancho molested two of the three kids he surreptitiously fathered. Yet he walks free, and SNAP worries that he may molest again.
The group wants church officials in Maryland and Virginia (where Christanco also worked) to make more aggressive efforts to find any victims and witnesses of Christancho’s crime and urge them to call police. SNAP also wants Baltimore’s archbishop to yank Christancho’s passport so he can’t flee the country.
CONTACT
Frank Dingle 410 744 2398 home, 443 996 8994 cell, Becky Ianni 703 801 6044, Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, David Clohessy 314 566 9790
Sex abuse victims seek resignation of Cardinal Francis George as head of US Bishops
For immediate release: Sunday, November 9
For more information: David Clohessy 314 566 9790
They want him to step down as head of America’s bishops
Their chief concern: He’s got a convicted friend on his payroll
Just last month, pedophile’s presence in Chicago was revealed
Criminal keeps getting paid even though George promised “he won’t be working here”
Group is also outraged that Cardinal recently tried to get another convicted predator out of jail.
Because of recent disclosures about “several pedophile priests and corrupt supervisors” in his archdiocese, clergy sex abuse victims are asking Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George to resign as head of the US bishops’ conference. The request comes on the eve of the annual meeting of America’s 200+ bishops in Baltimore.
Leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) are urging George to step down “for the good of the church, both locally and nationally” because of “several new child sex crime and cover ups,” including one involving Fr. Kenneth J. Martin, a personal friend of the Cardinal’s.
####“George is deceptively and recklessly letting a convicted predator priest pal work for and in the archdiocese, violating his specific, public promise to the contrary and the church’s national sex abuse policy,” said Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP’s founder and president. “Short of making this predator a pastor, it’s hard to imagine a more dangerous and deceitful move George could make.”
Last month, Chicago news media disclosed that Martin was still working for an archdiocesan agency with offices next to a Catholic school. In 2003, news accounts revealed that Martin was living in the Cardinal’s mansion and working for the archdiocese on a part time basis. Just two years before, Martin was convicted of molesting a boy in Baltimore for three years.
After Martin’s presence in Chicago was first disclosed in 2003, George publicly said “he won’t be working here anymore.” He has apparently remained on the archdiocesan payroll ever since, SNAP says.
But SNAP’s concern goes beyond the Martin case. The group cites cases involving 5 priests that have surfaced over the past year. Some are proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesters (Fr. Kenneth Martin, Fr. Joseph Bennett, Fr. Norbert Maday). Others ignored or concealed abuse, according to SNAP and church records, “complicit” (Fr. Leonard Dubi and Fr. Edward Grace).
The disclosures about Bennett, Dubi, Maday and Grace came through civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits that were settled in August 2008.
“Time and time again, even now, George is dishonest about child sex crimes,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP’s national director. “He keeps knowingly favoring friends and predators over kids and Catholics, to the point of taking extraordinarily obvious and inexcusable risks even with proven pedophiles.”
In 2006, SNAP and several other group's urged George to resign as head of the Chicago Archdiocese over his mishandling of the Fr. Daniel McCormack case. George promoted McCormack in 2005 even after he was arrested and kept McCormack in a parish even after the archdiocesan abuse review panel urged George to suspend him. In 2006, McCormack was arrested again for child molestation. Prosecutors said he’d abused one boy on “an almost daily basis” during those months George kept him in active parish ministry.
A copy of SNAP’s letter, sent today by fax and e mail, is below:
Nov. 9, 2008
Dear Cardinal George:
In 2006, our organization asked you to resign as head of the Chicago archdiocese, because of your reckless and deceptive mishandling of the Fr. McCormack’s child sex crimes.
Now, our organization is asking you to resign as head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, because of several new similar cases of your recklessness and deception over just the last year. Among these are disclosures about
-- your letting a convicted pedophile priest still work in your archdiocese (Fr. Kenneth J. Martin)
-- your refusal for years to suspend a credibly accused predator facing more than 12 abuse allegations (Fr. Joseph Bennett)
-- your trying to get a convicted pedophile priest released early from prison (Fr. Norbert Maday)
-- the two instances in which you ignored requests of your own lay abuse panel (the Bennett case)
-- your tolerating the complicit high-ranking chancery office priest who advised an accused predator on how to deceive a church review panel (Fr. Edward Grace)
-- your naming an accused predator’s friend (Fr. Edward Dubi) to allegedly ‘monitor’ him, despite clear pleas by your own abuse review panel to name anyone else for that role
-- your tolerating the egregious misconduct by a predator’s friend who shoved a person for simply asking questions about the predator (Fr. Edward Dubi).
Let’s look at these situations a little more closely.
----- The Fr. Kenneth J. Martin case
In 2003, you let a convicted child molesting priest, Fr. Kenneth J. Martin, work in your archdiocese. You also let him live in your mansion for a week each month. You told no one, even though six months earlier, you pledged to be “open and transparent’ about abuse.
Then, news accounts disclosed Martin’s presence and role in your archdiocese. In response, your staff split hairs, emphasizing that Martin abused as a seminarian, not a priest, so might not be ‘covered’ by the church’s sex abuse policies.
Still, under considerable public pressure, you told a reporter Martin "won't be coming back to Chicago."
Last month, however, news accounts disclosed that this convicted predator is on your payroll even now.
He apparently has been working continuously for you, despite your public promise to the contrary.
His office is next door to a parochial elementary school.
Initially, your public relations professional claimed Martin had “visited” that Chicago office only twice in 2008."
Later, your public relations professional then changed the story, admitting that Martin came to the office at least seven times in 2007-2008.
Regardless, no matter how you try to ‘spin’ this, you are continuing to take extraordinary risks by keeping your friend, a proven pedophile, in your archdiocese, next to school kids, and on your payroll.
-------- The Fr. Joseph R. Bennett case
-- In August 2008, newly release secret church records and Cardinal your own sworn deposition show that you suspended an accused serial predator priest, Fr. Bennett, from his suburban parish in 2006 only after at least a dozen of his victims had reported him to your staff.
-- Those same documents show that you overruled the recommendations of your own hand-picked abuse panel and had him alleged and secretly (but ineffectively) ‘monitored’ by a fellow priest, Fr. Leonard Dubi, who is a close friend of Bennett’s. The two of them own property together in Indiana. They then took a trip to Mexico together.
-- Your hand-picked abuse panel specifically, in two memos, urged you to NOT assign Dubi to this role. You rejected their recommendation.
-- In the same documents, Fr. Edward Grace, the archdiocese’s Vicar for Priests. Grace, urged Bennett to essentially lie about birthmarks on his genitals to ‘beat’ multiple child sex abuse allegations before a lay church panel. We’ve asked you to discipline these ‘enablers’ – Dubi and Grace - whose deceit put kids in harm’s way. You have ignored us.
-- We fear other accused child-molesting clergy are in still Chicago parishes right now, unbeknownst to parishioners, allegedly being ‘monitored’ by peers. We’ve asked you to disclose who and where they are and/or abide by the church’s national abuse policy and publicly suspend them. You have ignored us.
--------- The Fr. Norbert Maday case
-- The same deposition and documents also reveal that you and your top staffers spent considerable time and effort secretly trying to win the early release of a convicted serial child predator, Fr. Norbert Maday, who is in a Wisconsin prison.
-- We suspect and fear there are or have been other jailed sex offender clerics who have gotten or are getting your ‘behind the scenes’ help. We have asked you to stop it immediately, and to disclose if you’ve taken similar reckless action with other pedophiles. You have ignored us.
--Last month, we publicly called on you to promise you’d never again try to get a convicted pedophile priest out of jail early. You have not responded.
Again, this has all come out in the public arena in just the last year. We can’t help but wonder, of course, what other shocking and irresponsible actions you have taken recently that remain hidden.
Sadly, however, these recent cases are just more in a long line of irresponsible, deceptive and insensitive steps you’ve taken regarding clergy sex crimes and cover ups. They are part of a much larger, on-going, and disturbing pattern in the Chicago archdiocese, a pattern that goes back farther than just the last year, and that has changed little (if at all) since you promised to ‘reform’ in 2002. Here are just four examples.
----- The Fr. John Calicott case
In March 2004, twice-suspended abusive priest Fr. John Calicott was caught working, living and teaching sex education to kids at his old parish, with the full knowledge of the pastor. You slapped Calicott on the wrist, but refused to discipline or censure the pastor, Fr. George Miller, who knowingly put children in harm's way and violated the US bishops' national abuse policy.
----- The Fr. Michael Yakaitis case
In February 2005, Fr. Michael T. Yakaitis worked at the University of Chicago's Catholic Center, despite admitting sexual misconduct with a teenager years ago. A victim reported Yakaitis' exploitation and manipulation to at least seven church officials. But you let the abuser stay in ministry until this was publicly exposed.
----- The Fr. Elijah Martin case
In October 2005, you refused to discipline Father Elijah Martin or warn others about him. He seduced a young woman, fathered her child, ignored her, and refused to pay child support. Martin’s direct superiors also refused to give the mom any information about the priest’s whereabouts. You washed your hands of this controversy, despite repeated requests by our group to help the family and warn others about Martin.
----- The Fr. Daniel McCormack case
-- In the fall of 2005, McCormack was arrested for child molestation. Weeks later, you promoted him to head a deanery, or region, of the archdiocese.
-- In January 2006, McCormack was arrested again. He assaulted one 11 year old boy "on an almost daily basis" from Sept. 2005 until Jan. 2006. You kept him in ministry years after several reports of child sexual abuse, including repeated written and verbal ones from a Catholic nun more than seven years earlier to archdiocesan staff. You kept him in ministry months after your own hand-picked abuse panel urged you to suspend him.
-- We repeatedly urged you to “aggressively and immediately” reach out to parishes where McCormack worked, and prodded you to personally start visit those churches, emphatically reminding Catholics that they have a moral and civic duty to disclose anything they know about these allegations to law enforcement. You ignored us.
-- For months awaiting trial, you let McCormack live with relatives, refusing to order him to stay in a treatment center for pedophiles. We were highly critical of that move, calling it ‘reckless;’ and ‘irresponsible.’ We repeatedly urged you to reconsider. You ignored us.
-- Five top church staff who were involved in the McCormack debacle have all essentially been promoted since then. Only one has been disciplined – the female school principal who actually called the police and reported McCormack’s crimes.
----- Conclusion
It bears repeating that almost all of these reckless, inexcusable actions (and inactions) have happened AFTER you and your colleagues pledged, in 2002, to reform your dealings with clergy sex crimes and cover ups.
The bottom line: you continue to put your own reputation and comfort above the safety and well-being of your flock.
Why does this matter? Because when the head of America’s bishops acts so irresponsibly, it encourages other bishops to follow suit. It also discourages victims and witnesses from coming forward, reporting crimes and exposing predators. Finally, it rubs more salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of Catholics and victims who are still struggling with the pain and betrayal caused by the church’s on-going sex abuse and cover up crisis.
Less than a year ago, Pope Benedict, speaking to a group of bishops about the abuse scandal, said “… it is important to establish the truth of what happened in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again, to ensure the principles of justice are fully respected, and above all, to bring healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes.” You have clearly, during the last year, and for several years, done largely the opposite.
In light of all this, we respectfully but firmly as that you step down as head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, so that victims and Catholics will be assured, at least sometimes, that reckless, secrecy and deceit involving clergy child sex crimes will no longer be tolerated by the church hierarchy.
Barbara Blaine
President, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
PO Box 6416
Chicago IL 60680
312 399 4747
David Clohessy
National Director, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
7234 Arsenal Street
St. Louis MO 63143
314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Barbara Dorris
Outreach Coordinator, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
6245 Westminster
St. Louis MO 63130
314 862 7688
For more information: David Clohessy 314 566 9790
They want him to step down as head of America’s bishops
Their chief concern: He’s got a convicted friend on his payroll
Just last month, pedophile’s presence in Chicago was revealed
Criminal keeps getting paid even though George promised “he won’t be working here”
Group is also outraged that Cardinal recently tried to get another convicted predator out of jail.
Because of recent disclosures about “several pedophile priests and corrupt supervisors” in his archdiocese, clergy sex abuse victims are asking Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George to resign as head of the US bishops’ conference. The request comes on the eve of the annual meeting of America’s 200+ bishops in Baltimore.
Leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) are urging George to step down “for the good of the church, both locally and nationally” because of “several new child sex crime and cover ups,” including one involving Fr. Kenneth J. Martin, a personal friend of the Cardinal’s.
####“George is deceptively and recklessly letting a convicted predator priest pal work for and in the archdiocese, violating his specific, public promise to the contrary and the church’s national sex abuse policy,” said Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP’s founder and president. “Short of making this predator a pastor, it’s hard to imagine a more dangerous and deceitful move George could make.”
Last month, Chicago news media disclosed that Martin was still working for an archdiocesan agency with offices next to a Catholic school. In 2003, news accounts revealed that Martin was living in the Cardinal’s mansion and working for the archdiocese on a part time basis. Just two years before, Martin was convicted of molesting a boy in Baltimore for three years.
After Martin’s presence in Chicago was first disclosed in 2003, George publicly said “he won’t be working here anymore.” He has apparently remained on the archdiocesan payroll ever since, SNAP says.
But SNAP’s concern goes beyond the Martin case. The group cites cases involving 5 priests that have surfaced over the past year. Some are proven, admitted or credibly accused child molesters (Fr. Kenneth Martin, Fr. Joseph Bennett, Fr. Norbert Maday). Others ignored or concealed abuse, according to SNAP and church records, “complicit” (Fr. Leonard Dubi and Fr. Edward Grace).
The disclosures about Bennett, Dubi, Maday and Grace came through civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits that were settled in August 2008.
“Time and time again, even now, George is dishonest about child sex crimes,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP’s national director. “He keeps knowingly favoring friends and predators over kids and Catholics, to the point of taking extraordinarily obvious and inexcusable risks even with proven pedophiles.”
In 2006, SNAP and several other group's urged George to resign as head of the Chicago Archdiocese over his mishandling of the Fr. Daniel McCormack case. George promoted McCormack in 2005 even after he was arrested and kept McCormack in a parish even after the archdiocesan abuse review panel urged George to suspend him. In 2006, McCormack was arrested again for child molestation. Prosecutors said he’d abused one boy on “an almost daily basis” during those months George kept him in active parish ministry.
A copy of SNAP’s letter, sent today by fax and e mail, is below:
Nov. 9, 2008
Dear Cardinal George:
In 2006, our organization asked you to resign as head of the Chicago archdiocese, because of your reckless and deceptive mishandling of the Fr. McCormack’s child sex crimes.
Now, our organization is asking you to resign as head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, because of several new similar cases of your recklessness and deception over just the last year. Among these are disclosures about
-- your letting a convicted pedophile priest still work in your archdiocese (Fr. Kenneth J. Martin)
-- your refusal for years to suspend a credibly accused predator facing more than 12 abuse allegations (Fr. Joseph Bennett)
-- your trying to get a convicted pedophile priest released early from prison (Fr. Norbert Maday)
-- the two instances in which you ignored requests of your own lay abuse panel (the Bennett case)
-- your tolerating the complicit high-ranking chancery office priest who advised an accused predator on how to deceive a church review panel (Fr. Edward Grace)
-- your naming an accused predator’s friend (Fr. Edward Dubi) to allegedly ‘monitor’ him, despite clear pleas by your own abuse review panel to name anyone else for that role
-- your tolerating the egregious misconduct by a predator’s friend who shoved a person for simply asking questions about the predator (Fr. Edward Dubi).
Let’s look at these situations a little more closely.
----- The Fr. Kenneth J. Martin case
In 2003, you let a convicted child molesting priest, Fr. Kenneth J. Martin, work in your archdiocese. You also let him live in your mansion for a week each month. You told no one, even though six months earlier, you pledged to be “open and transparent’ about abuse.
Then, news accounts disclosed Martin’s presence and role in your archdiocese. In response, your staff split hairs, emphasizing that Martin abused as a seminarian, not a priest, so might not be ‘covered’ by the church’s sex abuse policies.
Still, under considerable public pressure, you told a reporter Martin "won't be coming back to Chicago."
Last month, however, news accounts disclosed that this convicted predator is on your payroll even now.
He apparently has been working continuously for you, despite your public promise to the contrary.
His office is next door to a parochial elementary school.
Initially, your public relations professional claimed Martin had “visited” that Chicago office only twice in 2008."
Later, your public relations professional then changed the story, admitting that Martin came to the office at least seven times in 2007-2008.
Regardless, no matter how you try to ‘spin’ this, you are continuing to take extraordinary risks by keeping your friend, a proven pedophile, in your archdiocese, next to school kids, and on your payroll.
-------- The Fr. Joseph R. Bennett case
-- In August 2008, newly release secret church records and Cardinal your own sworn deposition show that you suspended an accused serial predator priest, Fr. Bennett, from his suburban parish in 2006 only after at least a dozen of his victims had reported him to your staff.
-- Those same documents show that you overruled the recommendations of your own hand-picked abuse panel and had him alleged and secretly (but ineffectively) ‘monitored’ by a fellow priest, Fr. Leonard Dubi, who is a close friend of Bennett’s. The two of them own property together in Indiana. They then took a trip to Mexico together.
-- Your hand-picked abuse panel specifically, in two memos, urged you to NOT assign Dubi to this role. You rejected their recommendation.
-- In the same documents, Fr. Edward Grace, the archdiocese’s Vicar for Priests. Grace, urged Bennett to essentially lie about birthmarks on his genitals to ‘beat’ multiple child sex abuse allegations before a lay church panel. We’ve asked you to discipline these ‘enablers’ – Dubi and Grace - whose deceit put kids in harm’s way. You have ignored us.
-- We fear other accused child-molesting clergy are in still Chicago parishes right now, unbeknownst to parishioners, allegedly being ‘monitored’ by peers. We’ve asked you to disclose who and where they are and/or abide by the church’s national abuse policy and publicly suspend them. You have ignored us.
--------- The Fr. Norbert Maday case
-- The same deposition and documents also reveal that you and your top staffers spent considerable time and effort secretly trying to win the early release of a convicted serial child predator, Fr. Norbert Maday, who is in a Wisconsin prison.
-- We suspect and fear there are or have been other jailed sex offender clerics who have gotten or are getting your ‘behind the scenes’ help. We have asked you to stop it immediately, and to disclose if you’ve taken similar reckless action with other pedophiles. You have ignored us.
--Last month, we publicly called on you to promise you’d never again try to get a convicted pedophile priest out of jail early. You have not responded.
Again, this has all come out in the public arena in just the last year. We can’t help but wonder, of course, what other shocking and irresponsible actions you have taken recently that remain hidden.
Sadly, however, these recent cases are just more in a long line of irresponsible, deceptive and insensitive steps you’ve taken regarding clergy sex crimes and cover ups. They are part of a much larger, on-going, and disturbing pattern in the Chicago archdiocese, a pattern that goes back farther than just the last year, and that has changed little (if at all) since you promised to ‘reform’ in 2002. Here are just four examples.
----- The Fr. John Calicott case
In March 2004, twice-suspended abusive priest Fr. John Calicott was caught working, living and teaching sex education to kids at his old parish, with the full knowledge of the pastor. You slapped Calicott on the wrist, but refused to discipline or censure the pastor, Fr. George Miller, who knowingly put children in harm's way and violated the US bishops' national abuse policy.
----- The Fr. Michael Yakaitis case
In February 2005, Fr. Michael T. Yakaitis worked at the University of Chicago's Catholic Center, despite admitting sexual misconduct with a teenager years ago. A victim reported Yakaitis' exploitation and manipulation to at least seven church officials. But you let the abuser stay in ministry until this was publicly exposed.
----- The Fr. Elijah Martin case
In October 2005, you refused to discipline Father Elijah Martin or warn others about him. He seduced a young woman, fathered her child, ignored her, and refused to pay child support. Martin’s direct superiors also refused to give the mom any information about the priest’s whereabouts. You washed your hands of this controversy, despite repeated requests by our group to help the family and warn others about Martin.
----- The Fr. Daniel McCormack case
-- In the fall of 2005, McCormack was arrested for child molestation. Weeks later, you promoted him to head a deanery, or region, of the archdiocese.
-- In January 2006, McCormack was arrested again. He assaulted one 11 year old boy "on an almost daily basis" from Sept. 2005 until Jan. 2006. You kept him in ministry years after several reports of child sexual abuse, including repeated written and verbal ones from a Catholic nun more than seven years earlier to archdiocesan staff. You kept him in ministry months after your own hand-picked abuse panel urged you to suspend him.
-- We repeatedly urged you to “aggressively and immediately” reach out to parishes where McCormack worked, and prodded you to personally start visit those churches, emphatically reminding Catholics that they have a moral and civic duty to disclose anything they know about these allegations to law enforcement. You ignored us.
-- For months awaiting trial, you let McCormack live with relatives, refusing to order him to stay in a treatment center for pedophiles. We were highly critical of that move, calling it ‘reckless;’ and ‘irresponsible.’ We repeatedly urged you to reconsider. You ignored us.
-- Five top church staff who were involved in the McCormack debacle have all essentially been promoted since then. Only one has been disciplined – the female school principal who actually called the police and reported McCormack’s crimes.
----- Conclusion
It bears repeating that almost all of these reckless, inexcusable actions (and inactions) have happened AFTER you and your colleagues pledged, in 2002, to reform your dealings with clergy sex crimes and cover ups.
The bottom line: you continue to put your own reputation and comfort above the safety and well-being of your flock.
Why does this matter? Because when the head of America’s bishops acts so irresponsibly, it encourages other bishops to follow suit. It also discourages victims and witnesses from coming forward, reporting crimes and exposing predators. Finally, it rubs more salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of Catholics and victims who are still struggling with the pain and betrayal caused by the church’s on-going sex abuse and cover up crisis.
Less than a year ago, Pope Benedict, speaking to a group of bishops about the abuse scandal, said “… it is important to establish the truth of what happened in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again, to ensure the principles of justice are fully respected, and above all, to bring healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes.” You have clearly, during the last year, and for several years, done largely the opposite.
In light of all this, we respectfully but firmly as that you step down as head of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, so that victims and Catholics will be assured, at least sometimes, that reckless, secrecy and deceit involving clergy child sex crimes will no longer be tolerated by the church hierarchy.
Barbara Blaine
President, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
PO Box 6416
Chicago IL 60680
312 399 4747
David Clohessy
National Director, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
7234 Arsenal Street
St. Louis MO 63143
314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915
Barbara Dorris
Outreach Coordinator, SNAP
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
6245 Westminster
St. Louis MO 63130
314 862 7688
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Mother of clergy abuse victim urging Morlino to stop predator priest book tour
Mother of clergy abuse victim urging Morlino to stop predator priest book tour
Victims to flyer Janesville congregation Sunday where priest offender is having a book signing
Priest attacks in book 3 victims, 7 witnesses who reported abuse
Civil jury, canon law tribunal and lay review board has ruled priest sexually molested youngsters
WHAT
Nancy Arnold, a mother of a boy sexually assaulted by Fr. Gerald Vosen at St. John Vianney parish in Janesville, will join victims of childhood sexual abuse by clergy to flyer parishioners Sunday. They will be urging congregants to contact Bishop Robert Morlino to stop Vosen’s book and publicity tour. Vosen was removed from ministry by the Vatican for child abuse. He will be holding a book signing after masses on Sunday a block from the church.
WHERE
St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 1250 Racine Street, Janesville
WHEN
Sunday, Nov. 9. Flyering will begin at approximately 10:30-10:45 a.m., after the 9:45 service
WHO
Nancy Arnold, a mother of a childhood victim of sexual abuse by Fr. Gerald Vosen of the Madison diocese and Wisconsin members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), the nation’s largest and oldest self-help organization of clergy sexual abuse survivors.
WHY
Nancy Arnold, whose son was sexually assaulted by Fr. Gerald Vosen in Janesville and who is a member of St. John Vianney parish is speaking out for the first time about the recently published book and publicity tour being conducted in the diocese of Madison by Vosen. Vosen attacks the Arnold family, along with two other victims and at least seven witnesses who have come forward to the diocese reporting that he sexually molested minors.
Two weeks ago, in a letter to Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, the nation’s largest self-help organization of clergy sexual abuse survivors urged a swift response by the diocese against Vosen’s book and tour. By publically presenting himself as a priest, Vosen is in direct violation of a Vatican suspension.
Three times Vosen has been found guilty of the sex crimes against minors. First, by a Madison diocesan lay review board, then by a civil jury in Janesville, and most recently a canon law trial of priest peers.
Arnold and survivors want parishioners of St. Joseph to urge Morlino to release Vosen’s file, defend and support victims and their families, and publically sanction Vosen.
Morlino, says Arnold, should preach at parishes where Vosen was assigned to make clear that he cannot function as a priest and will not be permitted to either intimidate or profit from his sex crimes against her child or any other youngster.
CONTACT
Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director, 414.429.7259
John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin, 414.336.8575
Victims to flyer Janesville congregation Sunday where priest offender is having a book signing
Priest attacks in book 3 victims, 7 witnesses who reported abuse
Civil jury, canon law tribunal and lay review board has ruled priest sexually molested youngsters
WHAT
Nancy Arnold, a mother of a boy sexually assaulted by Fr. Gerald Vosen at St. John Vianney parish in Janesville, will join victims of childhood sexual abuse by clergy to flyer parishioners Sunday. They will be urging congregants to contact Bishop Robert Morlino to stop Vosen’s book and publicity tour. Vosen was removed from ministry by the Vatican for child abuse. He will be holding a book signing after masses on Sunday a block from the church.
WHERE
St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 1250 Racine Street, Janesville
WHEN
Sunday, Nov. 9. Flyering will begin at approximately 10:30-10:45 a.m., after the 9:45 service
WHO
Nancy Arnold, a mother of a childhood victim of sexual abuse by Fr. Gerald Vosen of the Madison diocese and Wisconsin members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), the nation’s largest and oldest self-help organization of clergy sexual abuse survivors.
WHY
Nancy Arnold, whose son was sexually assaulted by Fr. Gerald Vosen in Janesville and who is a member of St. John Vianney parish is speaking out for the first time about the recently published book and publicity tour being conducted in the diocese of Madison by Vosen. Vosen attacks the Arnold family, along with two other victims and at least seven witnesses who have come forward to the diocese reporting that he sexually molested minors.
Two weeks ago, in a letter to Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, the nation’s largest self-help organization of clergy sexual abuse survivors urged a swift response by the diocese against Vosen’s book and tour. By publically presenting himself as a priest, Vosen is in direct violation of a Vatican suspension.
Three times Vosen has been found guilty of the sex crimes against minors. First, by a Madison diocesan lay review board, then by a civil jury in Janesville, and most recently a canon law trial of priest peers.
Arnold and survivors want parishioners of St. Joseph to urge Morlino to release Vosen’s file, defend and support victims and their families, and publically sanction Vosen.
Morlino, says Arnold, should preach at parishes where Vosen was assigned to make clear that he cannot function as a priest and will not be permitted to either intimidate or profit from his sex crimes against her child or any other youngster.
CONTACT
Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director, 414.429.7259
John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin, 414.336.8575
Friday, November 7, 2008
Letter to Fairfax, VA, Commonwealth Attorney Morrogh about Father Fernando Cristancho
1) Mr. Raymond F. Morrogh
Commonwealth Attorney, Fairfax County
4110 Chain Bridge Road, Room 123
Fairfax, VA 22030
Commonwealth Attorney, Fairfax County
4110 Chain Bridge Road, Room 123
Fairfax, VA 22030
Dear Mr. Morrogh:
We are deeply concerned about Fr. Fernando Cristancho and the credible
child sex abuse allegations against him.
As you can see from the enclosed articles, a social service agency and a
judge have determined that he recently molested two of his three
children. We are concerned that he may have abused other children
during his tvime as a priest at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Fairfax
County (1995-1998). He was fired from that parish following accusations
of sexual misconduct with a young woman (though reportedly not a
minor). Subsequently, he worked in a Maryland parish where he fathered
three children through a surrogate mother. Fr. Cristancho is a native
of Colombia, South America. You can read the findings of the Maryland
Court of Special Appeals which recently denied him custody of his
children.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/opinions/2008_10_27_Cristancho_v_Redacted_R.pdf.
We are concerned because
- Fr. Cristancho walks free today,
- Catholic officials have a dismal record of supervising abusive clergy,
- Statutes often allow predators to escape criminal charges,
- Predator priests tend to be well-educated, shrewd and manipulative,
- Dozens of predator priests have escaped justice by fleeing overseas, and
- As you know, rarely does a child molester strike only once.
We are not police or prosecutors. But we are citizens concerned about
the continuing risk to innocent children as well as to other possible
victims that Fr. Cristancho sexually abused while he lived and worked in
No. Virginia.
We believe that authorities can deal with child sex crimes in two ways:
passively or aggressively. One can passively sit back and wait until a
victim walks in the door. Or one can aggressively use one's bully pulpit
and investigative tools to search out victims and witnesses and pursue
predators vigorously. We want the office of the Commonwealth Attorney,
along with the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, to take steps to preclude
Fr. Cristancho's access to children and to seek out other possible
victims of sexual abuse by him in No. Virginia. As a start, last
weekend the diocese arranged an announcement about Fr. Cristancho at
Good Shepherd Catholic Church, and this weekend a notice will be in the
parish bulletin. As a Catholic priest in a local parish, however, Fr.
Cristancho had access to many people and families in No. Virginia,
particulary among the Hispanic population to whom he specifically
ministered.
Specifically, we ask that you
- do everything in your power to probe Cristancho's past,
- try to get his passport revoked or suspended, so he can't move
elsewhere and molest again, and
- make a strong public appeal to anyone with information about his
crimes or misdeeds to come forward, get help, and contact law
enforcement right away.
When the time comes for discovery and subpoenas and other legal moves,
we will be glad to put you in touch with legal experts who understand
the church structure, terminology, and hierarchy, so that prosecution
can proceed as quickly and effectively as possible.
Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know how
we can help.
Sincerely
David Clohessy
Executive Director
SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)
314.566.9790; snapclohessy@aol.com
Contacts in No. Virginia
Becky Ianni (SNAP) 703.801.6044; BIanni@cox.net
Bill Casey (VOTF, Voice of the Faithful) 703.568.3438; b13909@comcast.net
Statement by Bill Casey on Cristancho
Nov. 6, 2008 Statement
My name is Bill Casey. Along with my colleagues from SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests—a self-help and advocacy group for survivors) and VOTF (Voice of the Faithful—a Catholic lay reform group formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church), I come here today to deliver a letter to the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney to use the powers of his office, along with the resources of the Catholic diocese of Arlington, to protect children from further abuse by predator priest Fernando Cristancho and to seek out and support any other victims of this priest.
Fr. Cristancho served as a parish priest, particularly to the Hispanic community, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Fairfax County between 1995-1998. He was removed from that position following evidence of sexual misconduct with a young woman (purportedly not a minor), but he gravitated to a new parish in Maryland (under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. While there he impregnated a surrogate mother through in vitro fertilization and fathered triplets. Competent authorities found evidence that he sexually abused his two sons.
Although he was later removed from this parish, he remains free and is a flight risk because he hails from Colombia in South America.
Based on his interview with a Baltimore newspaper, Fr.Cristancho wants us to believe an experienced
social worker, an unbiased judge, his children's mom and grandmother and a band of his fellow priests are all concocting or believing 'false' child sex abuse allegations against him.
He also wants us to believe that his archbishop would accept his deceptive, surreptitious fathering of three kids and still let him work in a parish, despite centuries of ironclad church demands that priests be celibate. Keep in mind that Cristancho is a smart, well-educated priest who clearly had and likely still has a lawyer.
Needless to say, all of this strains credulity and defies common sense.
But the focus now must be on church and criminal authorities, and what they can do to protect kids.
This isn't rocket science. If an employee is credibly accused of a child molestation, his employer and the criminal authorities try to quickly determine what actually happened. Often the best, quickest and easiest way to do that is to seek out other alleged victims and witnesses. And often, the best way to do that is by making a strong, clear public appeal - begging those with information, information that would either prove or disprove the the allegations - to come forward. That's what we want.
We also want church and criminal authorities to do everything possible to yank Cristancho's passport or other documents so he can't escape justice by fleeing the country. In particular, we want whichever bishop is paying him - whether Baltimore's or Arlington's - to insist that Cristancho turn over his passport to that bishop.
Remember, priests take a vow to obey their bishops. Priests have no union. They are virtually at the mercy of their bishop, and depend on him for a paycheck, health insurance, dental insurance, car allowance, housing allowance, retirement, and his approval to ever work in the church anywhere any time in the future.
Now is not the time to be complacent or slow or split bureaucratic hairs. Now is the time to protect the children and uncover the truth. That's all we're looking for.
Bill Casey
5529 Gary Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22311
703.568.3438
b13909@comcast.net
My name is Bill Casey. Along with my colleagues from SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests—a self-help and advocacy group for survivors) and VOTF (Voice of the Faithful—a Catholic lay reform group formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church), I come here today to deliver a letter to the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney to use the powers of his office, along with the resources of the Catholic diocese of Arlington, to protect children from further abuse by predator priest Fernando Cristancho and to seek out and support any other victims of this priest.
Fr. Cristancho served as a parish priest, particularly to the Hispanic community, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Fairfax County between 1995-1998. He was removed from that position following evidence of sexual misconduct with a young woman (purportedly not a minor), but he gravitated to a new parish in Maryland (under the Archdiocese of Baltimore. While there he impregnated a surrogate mother through in vitro fertilization and fathered triplets. Competent authorities found evidence that he sexually abused his two sons.
Although he was later removed from this parish, he remains free and is a flight risk because he hails from Colombia in South America.
Based on his interview with a Baltimore newspaper, Fr.Cristancho wants us to believe an experienced
social worker, an unbiased judge, his children's mom and grandmother and a band of his fellow priests are all concocting or believing 'false' child sex abuse allegations against him.
He also wants us to believe that his archbishop would accept his deceptive, surreptitious fathering of three kids and still let him work in a parish, despite centuries of ironclad church demands that priests be celibate. Keep in mind that Cristancho is a smart, well-educated priest who clearly had and likely still has a lawyer.
Needless to say, all of this strains credulity and defies common sense.
But the focus now must be on church and criminal authorities, and what they can do to protect kids.
This isn't rocket science. If an employee is credibly accused of a child molestation, his employer and the criminal authorities try to quickly determine what actually happened. Often the best, quickest and easiest way to do that is to seek out other alleged victims and witnesses. And often, the best way to do that is by making a strong, clear public appeal - begging those with information, information that would either prove or disprove the the allegations - to come forward. That's what we want.
We also want church and criminal authorities to do everything possible to yank Cristancho's passport or other documents so he can't escape justice by fleeing the country. In particular, we want whichever bishop is paying him - whether Baltimore's or Arlington's - to insist that Cristancho turn over his passport to that bishop.
Remember, priests take a vow to obey their bishops. Priests have no union. They are virtually at the mercy of their bishop, and depend on him for a paycheck, health insurance, dental insurance, car allowance, housing allowance, retirement, and his approval to ever work in the church anywhere any time in the future.
Now is not the time to be complacent or slow or split bureaucratic hairs. Now is the time to protect the children and uncover the truth. That's all we're looking for.
Bill Casey
5529 Gary Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22311
703.568.3438
b13909@comcast.net
Fr. Fernando Cristancho and the credible child sex abuse allegations against him.
For immediate release: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell)
In thousands and thousands of clergy child molestation cases, church and law enforcement staff can't turn back the clock and get a "do over". Thousands and thousands of times, at a bare minimum, church and law enforcement staff were naive and passive and mishandled clergy sex abuse reports.
More accurately, thousands and thousands of times, church staff actively shunned victims, deceived parishioners, stonewalled police, destroyed evidence, transferred predators, and recklessly, callously put kids in harm's way. Often, criminal authorities turned a blind eye or even cooperated in these injustices.
Here, however, is a chance to do it right. Here's a chance to help ensure that no other child is hurt by Fr. Cristancho, a priest who obviously broke his vows, deceived his flock, hurt his children and devastated their mother.
All it takes is a little courage and a little outreach. If there are others who witnessed or experienced Cristancho's misdeeds, there's a chance they'll step forward, do their civic duty, and help get him locked up so that other kids are safe. They just need a nudge, an invitation, a plea.
We in SNAP have made this plea. Now it's time for the prosecutor and bishop to do likewise. They've got far more resources and clout than we do. And if they do this simple, inexpensive outreach, they can help stop future child sex crimes and help those who've already suffered child sex crimes.
Please, we beg them, take this easy step, to both protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 17 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. 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, 314-645-5915 home), Peter Isely (414-429-7259) Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688), Mary Grant (626-419-2930), Mark Serrano (703-727-4940)
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell)
In thousands and thousands of clergy child molestation cases, church and law enforcement staff can't turn back the clock and get a "do over". Thousands and thousands of times, at a bare minimum, church and law enforcement staff were naive and passive and mishandled clergy sex abuse reports.
More accurately, thousands and thousands of times, church staff actively shunned victims, deceived parishioners, stonewalled police, destroyed evidence, transferred predators, and recklessly, callously put kids in harm's way. Often, criminal authorities turned a blind eye or even cooperated in these injustices.
Here, however, is a chance to do it right. Here's a chance to help ensure that no other child is hurt by Fr. Cristancho, a priest who obviously broke his vows, deceived his flock, hurt his children and devastated their mother.
All it takes is a little courage and a little outreach. If there are others who witnessed or experienced Cristancho's misdeeds, there's a chance they'll step forward, do their civic duty, and help get him locked up so that other kids are safe. They just need a nudge, an invitation, a plea.
We in SNAP have made this plea. Now it's time for the prosecutor and bishop to do likewise. They've got far more resources and clout than we do. And if they do this simple, inexpensive outreach, they can help stop future child sex crimes and help those who've already suffered child sex crimes.
Please, we beg them, take this easy step, to both protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 17 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. 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, 314-645-5915 home), Peter Isely (414-429-7259) Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688), Mary Grant (626-419-2930), Mark Serrano (703-727-4940)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
New lawsuit is filed against high profile Jesuit author and professor
New pedophile priest lawsuit is filed
Predator is nationally-known author & professor
He belongs to high profile Catholic order, the Jesuits
His supervisors knew of his crimes but ignored them, lawsuit says
Accused of molesting at least 8 girls, he wasn’t removed until 2003
SNAP urges others who “saw, suspected, or suffered” his misdeeds to come forward
WHAT
At a news conference, clergy molestation victims and attorneys will announce and discuss a new child sex abuse lawsuit against a nationally-known Jesuit priest and professor who now faces allegations of assaulting at least eight girls.
WHEN
TODAY, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1:15 PM
WHERE
At the law office of Kerns, Frost & Pearlman, Three First National Plaza, 70 W. Madison Suite 5350 (corner of Clark) in downtown Chicago
WHO
A Michigan woman who was abused by this priest, two attorneys who represent victims of this priest, and the founder of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
VISUAL
A photo of Powell is available at http://www.bishop-accountability.org/il_chicago/#powell
WHY
Fr. John J. Powell is accused of abusing of at least 7 girls in 1960s and 1970s, including the “Jane Doe” who is filing this new lawsuit. She met Powell as a teenager around 1967, when she attended Rosarian Academy, a Catholic girls’ school in West Palm Beach, Florida. During private “counseling sessions,” Powell made her sit on his lap, kiss him, and forced her to take her school uniform off and fondled her.
Powell was a professor at several universities who also “frequently traveled and gave retreats,” and wrote several books that were widely popular in religious circles. He was first sued in 2003 and again in 2006. Six of his victims settled their litigation in 2005.
According to the new suit, Powell engaged in “a pattern of sexually abusing Loyola University students and other minor and adult students.” His supervisors were repeatedly informed, it says, “of Powell’s pedophilic behavior and his propensity to abuse but failed to act on that knowledge. The Jesuits “did not inform law enforcement officials, students members of the Catholic community or the public at large of Powell’s wrongful and criminal conduct.” Instead, they claimed that “Powell was a priest in good standing and allowed Powell to continue in ministry and conduct numerous retreats where he could have access to and abuse children.”
He worked at West Baden University (1961-1965), Bellermine School of Theology of Loyola University (1965-1968), Loyola University of Chicago (1968-1979), and Loyola University (1979-2001). Powell is now retired in Michigan.
Doe is in her 50s and now lives in Florida. Her suit is being filed today in Cook County Circuit Court.
CONTACT
Attorney Jeff Anderson of St. Paul MN (612) 817 8665
Attorney Marc Pearlman of Chicago (773) 368 014
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP founder and president (312) 399 4747 cell
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Predator is nationally-known author & professor
He belongs to high profile Catholic order, the Jesuits
His supervisors knew of his crimes but ignored them, lawsuit says
Accused of molesting at least 8 girls, he wasn’t removed until 2003
SNAP urges others who “saw, suspected, or suffered” his misdeeds to come forward
WHAT
At a news conference, clergy molestation victims and attorneys will announce and discuss a new child sex abuse lawsuit against a nationally-known Jesuit priest and professor who now faces allegations of assaulting at least eight girls.
WHEN
TODAY, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1:15 PM
WHERE
At the law office of Kerns, Frost & Pearlman, Three First National Plaza, 70 W. Madison Suite 5350 (corner of Clark) in downtown Chicago
WHO
A Michigan woman who was abused by this priest, two attorneys who represent victims of this priest, and the founder of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
VISUAL
A photo of Powell is available at http://www.bishop-accountability.org/il_chicago/#powell
WHY
Fr. John J. Powell is accused of abusing of at least 7 girls in 1960s and 1970s, including the “Jane Doe” who is filing this new lawsuit. She met Powell as a teenager around 1967, when she attended Rosarian Academy, a Catholic girls’ school in West Palm Beach, Florida. During private “counseling sessions,” Powell made her sit on his lap, kiss him, and forced her to take her school uniform off and fondled her.
Powell was a professor at several universities who also “frequently traveled and gave retreats,” and wrote several books that were widely popular in religious circles. He was first sued in 2003 and again in 2006. Six of his victims settled their litigation in 2005.
According to the new suit, Powell engaged in “a pattern of sexually abusing Loyola University students and other minor and adult students.” His supervisors were repeatedly informed, it says, “of Powell’s pedophilic behavior and his propensity to abuse but failed to act on that knowledge. The Jesuits “did not inform law enforcement officials, students members of the Catholic community or the public at large of Powell’s wrongful and criminal conduct.” Instead, they claimed that “Powell was a priest in good standing and allowed Powell to continue in ministry and conduct numerous retreats where he could have access to and abuse children.”
He worked at West Baden University (1961-1965), Bellermine School of Theology of Loyola University (1965-1968), Loyola University of Chicago (1968-1979), and Loyola University (1979-2001). Powell is now retired in Michigan.
Doe is in her 50s and now lives in Florida. Her suit is being filed today in Cook County Circuit Court.
CONTACT
Attorney Jeff Anderson of St. Paul MN (612) 817 8665
Attorney Marc Pearlman of Chicago (773) 368 014
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP founder and president (312) 399 4747 cell
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Abuse victim blasts Catholic officials about pedophile bishop
Abuse victim blasts Catholic officials about pedophile bishop
She wants Vatican to defrock predator who molested dozens of boys
“Show courage & leadership,” SNAP says, “and reach out to others in pain”
Support group believes accused molester may still be criminally prosecuted
WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, a clergy molestation victim will prod Catholic officials in Sioux City and elsewhere to
-- apologize and explain why it took so long to deem a pedophile bishop “credibly accused,”
-- write Rome and urge the Vatican to defrock him, and
-- aggressively reach out to others who may have been hurt by any church employees, but especially the retired bishop.
She’ll also call on anyone with any information about the predators’ crimes to come forward, get help and call the police.
WHEN
Thursday, Nov. 6, 1:15 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Sioux City Diocese headquarters, 1821 Jackson Street, in Sioux City
WHO
An Iowa child molestation victim who’s a support group leader in SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
Late Tuesday, the Davenport Diocese announced that its abuse panel found retired Sioux City Bishop Lawrence Soens guilty of molesting boys. It is believed to be the first time in church history in the US that a diocesan committee has deemed that a bishop is a child molester.
According to the Des Moines Register, “The review board found Soens guilty of sexually abusing students at Iowa City Regina High School in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was principal. Soens was also found guilty of sexually abusing a male minor when Soens was rector of the St. Ambrose Seminary.”
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081103/NEWS/81103035
SNAP believes that Sioux City’s current bishop Walker Nickless should have taken action sooner to resolve the allegations against Soens and reach out to his victims. For children’s safety, the group wants Nickless to immediately write the Vatican and urge that Soens be permanently defrocked.
SNAP also wants Nickless to personally visit parishes across the diocese and beg victims and witnesses to call the police. Because police and prosecutors are becoming more aggressive and creative about pursuing child sex crimes (even from decades ago), SNAP believes that criminal charges against Soens may still be possible.
Founded in 1989, SNAP is the nation’s largest self-help group for clergy molestation victims of all faith groups.
CONTACT
Janet Clark of Fort Dodge, 515-573-4536
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP outreach director 314 862 7688
She wants Vatican to defrock predator who molested dozens of boys
“Show courage & leadership,” SNAP says, “and reach out to others in pain”
Support group believes accused molester may still be criminally prosecuted
WHAT
At a sidewalk news conference, a clergy molestation victim will prod Catholic officials in Sioux City and elsewhere to
-- apologize and explain why it took so long to deem a pedophile bishop “credibly accused,”
-- write Rome and urge the Vatican to defrock him, and
-- aggressively reach out to others who may have been hurt by any church employees, but especially the retired bishop.
She’ll also call on anyone with any information about the predators’ crimes to come forward, get help and call the police.
WHEN
Thursday, Nov. 6, 1:15 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Sioux City Diocese headquarters, 1821 Jackson Street, in Sioux City
WHO
An Iowa child molestation victim who’s a support group leader in SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
Late Tuesday, the Davenport Diocese announced that its abuse panel found retired Sioux City Bishop Lawrence Soens guilty of molesting boys. It is believed to be the first time in church history in the US that a diocesan committee has deemed that a bishop is a child molester.
According to the Des Moines Register, “The review board found Soens guilty of sexually abusing students at Iowa City Regina High School in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was principal. Soens was also found guilty of sexually abusing a male minor when Soens was rector of the St. Ambrose Seminary.”
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081103/NEWS/81103035
SNAP believes that Sioux City’s current bishop Walker Nickless should have taken action sooner to resolve the allegations against Soens and reach out to his victims. For children’s safety, the group wants Nickless to immediately write the Vatican and urge that Soens be permanently defrocked.
SNAP also wants Nickless to personally visit parishes across the diocese and beg victims and witnesses to call the police. Because police and prosecutors are becoming more aggressive and creative about pursuing child sex crimes (even from decades ago), SNAP believes that criminal charges against Soens may still be possible.
Founded in 1989, SNAP is the nation’s largest self-help group for clergy molestation victims of all faith groups.
CONTACT
Janet Clark of Fort Dodge, 515-573-4536
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790 cell
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP outreach director 314 862 7688
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
SNAP Mexico presents Federal Initiatives to reform Federal Laws
For immediate release: November 4, 2008
Mexico City, Mexico
SNAP Mexico presented various Federal Initiatives with Deputy Claudia Cruz on Monday, November 3, 2008 to reform Federal Laws that will: define “Abuse of Minors” under 18 years of age; increase jail time for convicted child molesters; establish mandatory reporting laws in both the public and private sector; establish laws and consequences for those persons and/or public or private institutions that cover-up abuse; increase civil monetary penalties for offenders and those that cover them up; establish rights of legal procedure for victims who report crimes; establish procedures for the Federal Attorney General’s office to handle cases of child sexual abuse; the elimination of the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse; amongst others.
The reforms call for a change in: the Federal Penal Code; the Federal Penal Procedures Code; The Organic Law of the Federal General Attorney’s Office; Federal Law against Organized Crime; Law for the Protection of the Rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents; General Law of Health; General Law of Education; Law of Religious Associations and Public Worship; The Federal Consumer Protection Law; and, the Regulatory Law of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution, relating to the Exercise of Professions in the Federal District (Mexico City).
SNAP Mexico worked hand in hand with victims, their families, child advocate organizations, civic organizations, volunteer attorney’s and representatives of Federal Deputy Claudia Cruz to establish these initiatives and present them to the Mexican Congress.
We urge all victims, families, international organizations and the media to take note of these initiatives and make every effort to contact Mexican Legislators in order to have these initiatives approved before the current congress adjourns.
We have attached the outline (in Spanish) of the current law as it stands with the proposed changes. We have also included a Spanish Decree that was introduced with the bill that outlines the background of these initiatives based on international data, victim experiences, current legal challenges and social consequences of the lack of these laws in Mexican Society.
SNAP Mexico has launched an outreach campaign to Federal Legislators & Congressional Commissions in order to have them hear directly from victims and families regarding the importance of these initiatives.
To help, or for further information, please contact Eric Barragan at (805)207-7424(US) or Joaquin Aguilar Mendez at (55) 1993-3681(Mexico City) or email us at snapmexico@aol.com.
Mexico City, Mexico
SNAP Mexico presented various Federal Initiatives with Deputy Claudia Cruz on Monday, November 3, 2008 to reform Federal Laws that will: define “Abuse of Minors” under 18 years of age; increase jail time for convicted child molesters; establish mandatory reporting laws in both the public and private sector; establish laws and consequences for those persons and/or public or private institutions that cover-up abuse; increase civil monetary penalties for offenders and those that cover them up; establish rights of legal procedure for victims who report crimes; establish procedures for the Federal Attorney General’s office to handle cases of child sexual abuse; the elimination of the statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse; amongst others.
The reforms call for a change in: the Federal Penal Code; the Federal Penal Procedures Code; The Organic Law of the Federal General Attorney’s Office; Federal Law against Organized Crime; Law for the Protection of the Rights of Girls, Boys and Adolescents; General Law of Health; General Law of Education; Law of Religious Associations and Public Worship; The Federal Consumer Protection Law; and, the Regulatory Law of the 5th Amendment of the Constitution, relating to the Exercise of Professions in the Federal District (Mexico City).
SNAP Mexico worked hand in hand with victims, their families, child advocate organizations, civic organizations, volunteer attorney’s and representatives of Federal Deputy Claudia Cruz to establish these initiatives and present them to the Mexican Congress.
We urge all victims, families, international organizations and the media to take note of these initiatives and make every effort to contact Mexican Legislators in order to have these initiatives approved before the current congress adjourns.
We have attached the outline (in Spanish) of the current law as it stands with the proposed changes. We have also included a Spanish Decree that was introduced with the bill that outlines the background of these initiatives based on international data, victim experiences, current legal challenges and social consequences of the lack of these laws in Mexican Society.
SNAP Mexico has launched an outreach campaign to Federal Legislators & Congressional Commissions in order to have them hear directly from victims and families regarding the importance of these initiatives.
To help, or for further information, please contact Eric Barragan at (805)207-7424(US) or Joaquin Aguilar Mendez at (55) 1993-3681(Mexico City) or email us at snapmexico@aol.com.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Bishop guilty of child molestation; Sex abuse victims respond
For immediate release: Monday, Nov. 3, 2008
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell)
This is a very belated and begrudging admission of horrific wrong-doing that for decades was shrewdly concealed by corrupt Catholic officials. We hope now that finally the Iowa church hierarchy will use its considerable resources to seek out and help Soens' dozens of victims.
We resent that Davenport's bishop deliberately makes this announcement at a time when he knows it will receive inadequate public attention. At the same time, however, we hope this admission will prod others who saw, suspected or suffered these priests' crimes to come forward, get help and call police.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 17 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. 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, 314-645-5915 home), Peter Isely (414-429-7259) Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688), Mary Grant (626-419-2930), Mark Serrano (703-727-4940)
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081103/NEWS/81103035/-1/ENT06
Review finds retired Catholic bishop guilty of sex abuse
ERIN JORDAN • ejordan@dmreg.com • November 3, 2008
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport announced four priests, including retired Bishop Lawrence Soens, have been found guilty of sexual abuse by a diocesan review board.
Soens, Joseph Hines, Eugene Smith, and Gerald Stouvenel will be added to a list of clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing children, the diocese announced this afternoon.
Monsignor Drake Shafer has been found not guilty and will be restored to active ministry, the diocese announced. Shafer was second-in-command in the diocese until he was suspended in 2003 after a West Burlington man sued him for alleged sexual molestation. The case was settled out of court.
The review board found Soens guilty of sexually abusing students at Iowa City Regina High School in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was principal. Soens was also found guilty of sexually abusing a male minor when Soens was rector of the St. Ambrose Seminary.
"That is monumental for the diocese to admit that one of their bishops is a credibly accused abuser," said Mike Uhde, an abuse victim who lives in Davenport.
The report on Soens will be sent to the Vatican, where Pope Benedict XVI will decide whether the former bishop of the Sioux City Diocese will be defrocked, said Deacon David Montgomery.
The review board found that Stouvenel sexually abused three boys in the 1970s. Pope Benedict Benedict XVI has ordered Stouvenel to "lead a life of prayer and penance," but did not defrock him, the diocese announced. Stouvenel will continue to live at the diocese headquarters in Davenport, where a monitoring program has been implemented, the diocese announced.
The review board found allegations against the Rev. Martin Diamond were not credible. The board reviewed testimony and medical records from two men who alleged they were molested by Diamond more than 30 years ago, but did not find "clear and convincing evidence," which is the standard that must be met when a priest is dead. Diamond died in 1989.
Hines is dead. Smith was defrocked in 1981, Montgomery said.
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell)
This is a very belated and begrudging admission of horrific wrong-doing that for decades was shrewdly concealed by corrupt Catholic officials. We hope now that finally the Iowa church hierarchy will use its considerable resources to seek out and help Soens' dozens of victims.
We resent that Davenport's bishop deliberately makes this announcement at a time when he knows it will receive inadequate public attention. At the same time, however, we hope this admission will prod others who saw, suspected or suffered these priests' crimes to come forward, get help and call police.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 17 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. 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, 314-645-5915 home), Peter Isely (414-429-7259) Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688), Mary Grant (626-419-2930), Mark Serrano (703-727-4940)
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20081103/NEWS/81103035/-1/ENT06
Review finds retired Catholic bishop guilty of sex abuse
ERIN JORDAN • ejordan@dmreg.com • November 3, 2008
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport announced four priests, including retired Bishop Lawrence Soens, have been found guilty of sexual abuse by a diocesan review board.
Soens, Joseph Hines, Eugene Smith, and Gerald Stouvenel will be added to a list of clergy credibly accused of sexually abusing children, the diocese announced this afternoon.
Monsignor Drake Shafer has been found not guilty and will be restored to active ministry, the diocese announced. Shafer was second-in-command in the diocese until he was suspended in 2003 after a West Burlington man sued him for alleged sexual molestation. The case was settled out of court.
The review board found Soens guilty of sexually abusing students at Iowa City Regina High School in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was principal. Soens was also found guilty of sexually abusing a male minor when Soens was rector of the St. Ambrose Seminary.
"That is monumental for the diocese to admit that one of their bishops is a credibly accused abuser," said Mike Uhde, an abuse victim who lives in Davenport.
The report on Soens will be sent to the Vatican, where Pope Benedict XVI will decide whether the former bishop of the Sioux City Diocese will be defrocked, said Deacon David Montgomery.
The review board found that Stouvenel sexually abused three boys in the 1970s. Pope Benedict Benedict XVI has ordered Stouvenel to "lead a life of prayer and penance," but did not defrock him, the diocese announced. Stouvenel will continue to live at the diocese headquarters in Davenport, where a monitoring program has been implemented, the diocese announced.
The review board found allegations against the Rev. Martin Diamond were not credible. The board reviewed testimony and medical records from two men who alleged they were molested by Diamond more than 30 years ago, but did not find "clear and convincing evidence," which is the standard that must be met when a priest is dead. Diamond died in 1989.
Hines is dead. Smith was defrocked in 1981, Montgomery said.
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