EVANSVILLE (IN)
Evansville Courier & Press
January 16, 2019
By Noah Stubbs
It’s been four months since Bishop Joseph M. Siegel announced the Catholic Diocese of Evansville will collect and release the names of priests who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors.
But that’s too long for a group protesting in front of the Diocese’s administration building Wednesday afternoon.
Four members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) pleaded in front of the building’s sign for the bishop to release the names.
The organization is a nationwide nonprofit support group for men and women who have been abused by religious and institutional authorities.
The group appealed for sexual abuse victims to come forward and get help.
“To anyone who has been affected by this: come forward, get help and start healing,” SNAP volunteer David Clohessy said. “The pain is never totally gone, but you can get better.”
The members also asked Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill to open up a statewide investigation into priests who have been accused of sexual abuse.
Moments before the news conference, a statement released from the diocese said the inspection and review of clergy records is ongoing, and the release of names will occur within the next several weeks.
“Why won’t (Bishop Siegel) release the names today?” Clohessy asked upon hearing the diocese’s statement. “He and his predecessors have had decades to do this”
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.