NEW JERSEY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, June 03, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)
A former New Jersey priest has been denied insurance coverage from the Catholic church in a lawsuit against him. The ex-priest is being sued for having an affair with a parishioner and counseling the woman’s husband.
This is another sad example of church officials focusing on legal technicalities instead of wounded and betrayed victims. Henry Drew was a monk at St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, and the weekend assistant priest at Our Lady of the Mount Roman Catholic Church in Warren when he began to sexually exploit a married parishioner. The woman’s husband sought counseling from Drew, who told him to get a divorce. This is a gross misuse of power.
Drew violated his sacred duty twice. First, he sexually exploited a member of his church. Then he violating the trust of the man he was counseling and using his position to influence a divorce.
We also want to point out that relationships can never be equal between and priest and a parishioner. In 17 states, it’s illegal for a clergyman to have any sexual contact with a congregant.
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