MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, Oct. 8 2013
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, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)
We are grateful this step has been taken – the re-opening of the investigation into Fr. Jonathan Shelley’s alleged child porn – but we’re confused as to why law enforcement officials weren’t more aggressive about this case to begin with. And are outraged that Catholic officials refused to turn over evidence to police when asked to do so.
Law enforcement needs to investigate those who commit AND conceal child sex crimes. It’s too easy to fixate on the offender and ignore those who help the offender.
Recently released archdiocesan records show that the secrecy and deceit shown in the cases of Fr. Shelley, Fr. Wehmeyer and Fr. Henrich are not aberrations. They are the norm. In clergy child sex cases, hiding as much as you can and doing as little as you can continues to be the archdiocesan modus operandi.
These are not “missteps” or “mistakes” or “oversights.” Catholic officials are well-educated and smart. So are their lawyers and their public relations professionals. They act with great care in clergy sex cases.
But they’re torn. While common sense and parishioner outrage and public relations concerns might tempt Archbishop John Nienstadt to discipline men like Andrew Eizenzimmer, Fr. Kevin McDonough, Fr. Peter Laird and others, the archbishop fears that demoting, defrocking or denouncing these men is problematic, because they could then “turn on” Nienstadt and become whistleblowers themselves.
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