SOUTH DAKOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )
We are grateful that South Dakota law enforcement officials are doing what Minnesota and South Dakota Catholic officials refuse to do – taking seriously the admitted child sex crimes of Fr. Clarence Vavra.
Today, Minnesota Public Radio reports that an investigation has been opened “into alleged sexual abuse of children by a Minnesota priest” who admitted molesting kids on a reservation in South Dakota.
This is precisely what should happen.
South Dakota’s two Catholic bishops should show real leadership and aggressively help police and prosecutors by visiting every place where Fr. Vavra worked, begging victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to step forward. Catholic officials recruit, educate, ordain, train transfer and shield child molesting clerics. When those clerics admit sexually assaulting kids – as Fr. Vavra has – the least Catholic officials can do is to act like the shepherds they purport to be and seek out others who have been hurt.
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