UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Monday, Nov. 16, 2015
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
There’s irony and tragedy today as the Washington DC-based US Conference of Catholic Bishops holds its annual meeting in Baltimore.
It’s ironic because, today, a former Washington DC priest who’d already served prison time for assaulting young men pled guilty to child pornography.
And it’s tragic because, as best we can tell, the bishops apparently won’t even talk about – much less take action on – the church’s continuing abuse and cover up crisis.
[U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops]
This is tragic because just a few months ago, during his first visit to the US, Pope Francis got many people’s hopes up by making strong promises, including that “abuse cannot be kept secret any longer,” “all responsible will be held accountable,” and that church officials will provide “careful oversight to ensure that youth are protected.”
He has also said “Everything possible must be done to rid the church of the scourge of the sexual abuse of minors and to open pathways of reconciliation and healing for those who were abused.”
Apparently, US bishops weren’t listening. Apparently, they’re completely confident they’re doing all they can to stop predator priests, nuns, bishops, seminarians and brothers and deter their complicit colleagues and supervisors.
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