PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003,bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org)

Two more central Pennsylvania priests have been suspended because of child sex abuse reports. This means that 31 Altoona-Johnstown Catholic priests are publicly accused of sexually assaulting kids.

Fr. David Arseneault (AR’-sen-oh) and Fr. James Coveney are on leave due to allegtions that they molested kids.

Bishop Mark Bartchak’s announcement about this move was troubling.

First, he minimizes the horrors and promotes dangerous complacency by stressing that the alleged crimes happened years ago. That’s self-serving but wrong. He should be urging vigilance, not complacency.

Second, Bartchak says he must “re-examine” these abuse reports.” That suggests that he’s known about them for some time. Bartchack must honor his pledges of “openness and transparency”…