MASSACHUSETTS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Sunday, Feb. 8

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 )

In suspending yet another credibly accused predator priest, Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley refuses to take two key steps. We’re appalled by his unwillingness to act responsibly about the child sex allegations against Fr. Thomas P. Gillespie.

[Boston archdiocese]

First, O’Malley refuses to urge anyone with information or suspicions about Fr. Gillespie to call police immediately. Instead, in his statement today, O’Malley does what hundreds of bishops have done for decades: he asks victims to call church officials, not law enforcement officials. He’s dead wrong. This is extraordinarily irresponsible. This is precisely the approach that has enabled more than 6,300 US priests to become proven, admitted and credibly accused child…