CA- Records on SD predator priest are released, SNAP responds

CALIFORNIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )

Long secret records about a San Diego predator priest have been released in Minnesota where he molested before he moved to California.

[10 News]

Catholic Church officials were told about allegations against Fr. Paul Palmitessa in the 1990s. One of Palmitessa’s victims later murdered his wife and committed suicide.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul claims that they informed the Diocese of San Diego as soon as they learned of the allegations. Why then did it take more than a decade for Palmitessa’s name to appear on any public lists of child molesting clerics? Why was Palmitessa allowed to continue to work all the way up until 2012?

[Star Tribune]

These kinds of dangerous and self serving practices are unfortunately nothing new. We hope Catholic officials in San Diego and the Twin Cities will do the responsible thing now, and aggressively reach out to anyone who many have seen, suspected or suffered abuse by Palmitessa, using church bulletins, parish websites and pulpit announcements

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