KY- Priest suspended for second time, SNAP responds
KENTUCKY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Monday, May 12, 2014
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790 SNAPclohessy@aol.com )
A Kentucky priest has been placed on leave after a second abuse allegation was reported. We are grateful to the brave victim for stepping forward and reporting their abuse.
Fr. Joseph Hemmerle, who is the pastor at two parishes in the Louisville diocese, has now been twice accused of abusing children in the 1970s. After the first allegation was made, the diocese claimed the accusation was “unsubstantiated,” and put Fr. Hemmerle back in a parish.
This is a perfect example of why church “abuse investigations” are so inadequate and why letting accused priests return to ministry is dangerous. Catholic officials usually do the absolute bare minimum when an…
