PENNSYLVANIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 15, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
At least eight other Franciscan friars – besides notorious serial predator Brother Stephen Baker – had been transferred to other locations following abuse allegations. So says Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
The next step is obvious: The Franciscans must disclose who and where these eight accused predators are and have been. That’s a belated but crucial step forward.
Unless or until they do, we urge
–bishops in Altoona, Richmond, St. Paul, Detroit and Youngstown to immediately suspend all Franciscans in their dioceses,
–Catholics to stop donating to Franciscans,
–shoppers to stop buying products at the Franciscan shop in the Altoona-Johnstown area mall, and
–mall owners to try to oust the Franciscans from the mall.
Sound harsh? Remember that these Franciscans knowingly enabled Brother Baker to assault at least 100 kids by refusing to call police or warn parents about his crimes.
Unless we as a society pressure and punish those who help child molesters, many of them will keep helping child molesters.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.