MISSISSIPPI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
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
A Catholic priest who worked in Mississippi is the subject of a recently-filed child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit in Texas. We call on Mississippi’s two bishops to aggressively reach out to others who may have been hurt by the child molesting cleric.
Mississippi’s two bishops face a choice. They can break with the long-standing, selfish and destructive practices of the Catholic hierarchy, and aggressively seek out others who were hurt by these this predators. Or they can do what they and their brother bishops have done for decades, and essentially be passive.
We urge them to act like compassionate shepherds, not a cold-hearted CEOs. We urge them to personally visit every church or school where these two convicted child molesters worked or lived. We urge them to beg any victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers to step forward, call police, expose wrongdoers, and deter wrongdoing. We urge them to print prominent and clear appeals in every parish bulletin and on their diocesan websites, prodding others who have been victimized to step forward. This is an inexpensive and non-controversial way to help those who were violated as kids but are still in pain as adults.
This isn’t rocket science. It’s common sense. It’s what any responsible religious figure would do.
Over the past two decades, we in SNAP have seen, over and over again, that when public figures plead with victims to speak up, it can have a positive impact. These bishops aren’t shy. They speak up often. Why won’t they beg deeply wounded and still suffering child sex abuse victims to do the same?
In diocesan fundraising appeals, bishops put on the full court press. In clergy sex cases, however, they usually sit on the sidelines, even when guilt is clear and when his voice could help.
Have they forgotten what Pope Francis has promised: that Catholic officials will “do everything possible” to help those who were assaulted as kids by clerics?
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