Catholic Group Has Scholarship Named after Cardinal Law

SNAP
April 21, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mo_catholic_group_has_scholarship_named_after_cardinal_law

For more information: David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, davidgclohessy@gmail.com), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, bblaine@snapnetwork.org)

Victims blast big Catholic group

It honors “disgraced” church official

Scholarship is named after Boston’s Cardinal Law

He was forced to resign due to “horrific” abuse cover ups

Years ago, he headed diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

SNAP: “Such callousness encourages secrecy and hurts victims”

Group asks St. Louis archbishop to force K of C to apologize & stop

A large statewide Catholic group that meets this weekend just gave a scholarship named after a disgraced Catholic official who was forced to resign because of widespread abuse cover ups and a victims’ group is crying foul.

[i Knights of Columbus donated money to a student for his education as the “Cardinal Bernard Law Youth Scholarship.” http:]

[news-leader.com]

[w became the first US bishop to resign for quietly moving predator priests. He’s been called “the poster child” for the church’s abuse scandal.http:]

[wbur.org]

[rchbishop Robert Carlson is the Knights’ honorary state chaplain. They have an office in Maplewood (7318 Manchester Rd, 314 647 5529) and Jefferson City (573 584 3200). They are the “world’s largest Catholic fraternal organization” with 1.8 million members. http:]

Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests says honoring those who conceal abuse encourages others to conceal abuse.

“Archbishop Robert Carlson is Missouri’s highest ranking Catholic official,” said David Clohessy, SNAP’s director. “He should denounce this callousness and insist that the group apologize and rename the scholarship.”

“Ignoring wrongdoing encourages more wrongdoing,” said Barbara Dorris, SNAP’s outreach director. “And honoring a prelate who knowingly endangered hundreds of kids for decades makes victims who haven’t reported their abuse less likely to do so. It deepens the already deep feelings of hopelessness that so many of us already feel.”

“Keith Milson of St. Louis is the statewide head of the Knights. He is an engineer for MSD, so he’s not dumb. And he’s been involved with the Missouri State High School Activities Association, so he should care about kids,” said Clohessy. “So how can he and Archbishop Carlson and thousands of Catholics across Missouri turn a blind eye to the widely-understood and clearly-documented harm that Cardinal Law did to so many families?”

In 2003, the national Knights of Columbus loaned $38 million to Law and the Boston archdiocese to settle child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits.

[bishop-accountability.org]

The Knights of Columbus Missouri State Council holds its annual convention April 22-24 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.

[mokofc.org]

Other K of C officials include Michael Grudzinski of Maryville (660-562-1529), Bob Hawkins of Ballwin (636-391-6443), Doug Kissinger of Ozark (417-336-2023), Michael Auchly of Montgomery City (636-745-3351 x 1321), Jerry Herbert of Florissant (314-746-4608), Tim Beussink of Gordonville (573-450-6466), John Mautino of Lee's Summit(816-305-5954), Michael Tesmer of Harrisonville (816-918-9134) and Youth Director John (Rocky) Gambon of Springfield (417-830-6389)