MINNESOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014
Statement by SNAP leader Frank Meuers of Plymouth ( 952-334-5180, frankameuers@gmail.com )
Ramsey County’s prostoecur doubts he can bring criminal charges against ten Twin Cities predator priests. We believe he should try harder, do more aggressive outreach and keep scouring the statutes vigorously.
Remember: Al Capone was nailed on income tax evasion. And remember: Often, where there’s a will, there’s a way. And also remember: to the overwhelming majority of victims, even a failed prosecution is better than none at all, because it may deter future crimes.
We believe that prosecutors and police chiefs in all the 12 counties covered by the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese should ask every pastor for:
–permission to speak at masses about this scandal and use any such opportunity to beg victims witnesses and whistleblowers to step forward, and
–a page of their parish bulletin to issue the same plea in writing.
Then they should also individually ask every Catholic employee in their jurisdictions (especially clerics), in writing and over the phone, to voluntarily share what they know or suspect about clergy sex crimes and cover ups.
Each church staffer – lay or ordained – should be given a firm deadline. And the police and prosecutors should then publicize, by name, those who refuse to cooperate.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.