Local Philadelphia Abuse Survivor Calls for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to “Correct Misinformation”

By Michael Mcdonnell And Zach Hiner
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
January 15, 2019

https://bit.ly/2SXIKvN

On Sunday, January 13, 2018, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia released a statement regarding the removal of three priests, Fr Raymond W. Smart, Msgr. Joseph Logrip, and Fr.  John F. Meyers.

However, clear and concise information is not being relayed to the faith community concerning these “loose ends,” according to SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

In its statement, the Archdiocese said that Fr. Smart "has not served in any parish or school since 1995 due to poor health. He has been retired and living in a private residence since 2002.” 

However, volunteer Philadelphia SNAP leader Michael McDonnell, along with Catholics 4 Change (C4C) co-founder, Kathy O'Neill Kane, have identified this as a very misleading statement.  Thorough research shows that Fr. Smart was, in fact, not always living in a private residence, but resided in a parish setting for many years following 2002, and as recently as 2015. In addition, several parishioners from neighboring parishes informed Mike and C4C that Fr. Smart often assisted at masses for Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Limerick, Pa. and St. Eleanors, Collegeville, Pa.  

In addition, the Archdiocese fails to report where Msgr. Logrip resided between 1983-1990. The release also fails to mention that during the 1980s and 1990s, Fr. Logrip voluntarily served as a chaplain to St. Aloysius Academy.  While the Academy is technically not an “Archdiocesan” assignment, not sharing the information shows a lack of transparency and accountability. 

It should also be noted that this is the second removal from ministry for Fr. Logrip.  He was previously placed on administrative leave and had his priestly faculties restricted by the Archdiocese following the March 2011 Philadelphia Grand Jury Report, based on an allegation that he had sexually abused a minor over two decades before that time. 

“The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues to fail to relay accurate, transparent information to the public, the Church’s faith community, and to victims who have carried the burden of pain for decades," McDonnell said to local news outlets. 

The SNAP leader is calling on the Communications Dept. and Office of Investigation for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to correct the information in their recent press release and to do a better job at being “transparent” in the future.

Anyone who has been victimized by any of the priests named in the Archdiocesan statement is encouraged to reach out to law enforcement and to the Office of Attorney General in Pennsylvania at 1-888-538-8541. For peer to peer support, survivors should contact SNAP.