UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, Nov. 5
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com, davidgclohessy@gmail.com )
Though he has demoted no bishop for hiding abuse, Pope Francis said today that he sacked a Catholic official for selling marriage annulments.
Some lay Catholics will be encouraged by this news. To us, it’s discouraging. It suggests that Frances cares more about financial reform that children’s safety.
Hundreds of bishops are hiding predators and endangering kids. One – Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City – has been criminally convicted of recently protecting Fr. Shawn Ratigan, a notorious serial predator priest who has also been criminally convicted. Yet Finn remains in office and Francis stays silent.
And hundreds of other bishops have done and are doing what Finn has done. But they haven’t been caught yet. And again, Francis stays silent.
Is an alleged $10,000 theft of greater concern to the Pope than the physical and emotional safety and well-being of thousands of children?
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