Accused Abusive Priest Is Found Not Guilty; Victims Respond

SNAP
May 31, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/al_accused_abusive_priest_is_found_not_guilty_victims_respond

We are sad that jurors found an ex-priest not guilty of child sex crimes. We believe this verdict will endanger kids. We’ve spoken to this mom, Christina Presnell, and believe her, her son and her step-son. We’re convinced that Fr. David Stone, also known as Fr. Francis Mary Stone, who worked for the Eternal Word Television Network, is a dangerous cleric.

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We applaud this wounded boy and his family. We are deeply grateful that they had the wisdom, courage and strength to expose a dangerous cleric in court and warn others about him. They no doubt feel betrayed again at this point. But we believe that over time, they will be proud of what they’ve achieved.

[al.com]

Fr. Stone has reportedly been suspended. But he is still a priest and should be referred to as a priest.

He purportedly cannot present himself publicly as a priest. But unless he’s been formally defrocked by the Vatican – and we see no evidence that this has happened – he is still a priest. (Most predator priests, including some who are in prison, are not ever defrocked.)

No matter what lawmakers or church officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

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

Dad hurts me': therapist says priest's son said they played 'The Butt Game'

Print Email Greg Garrison | ggarrison@al.com By Greg Garrison | ggarrison@al.com

on May 25, 2016 at 1:12 PM, updated May 25, 2016 at 2:04 PM

David Stone, 54, formerly known as Father Frances Mary Stone, was host of the TV program "Life on the Rock" on Eternal Word Television Network. He fathered a child born in 2008. The mother was fired from EWTN and Stone was put on long-term leave of absence, according to Jefferson County court documents. (Screenshot from the EWTN program 'Life on the Rock)

The child therapist who initiated an investigation of child abuse against a Birmingham Catholic priest testified today in Jefferson County Court that the priest's son told her that his father made him play what he called "The Butt Game."

A trial began Monday for David Lawrence Stone, a Catholic priest and former EWTN TV host who . . .