SOUTH DAKOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, Jan. 14
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 )
Monday, in an act of stunning insensitivity, a South Dakota bishop dedicated a building to his predecessor who was accused of molesting three children.
Sioux Falls Bishop Paul J. Swain led a public ceremony to name dedicated a homeless shelter after the now-deceased Bishop Paul V. Dudley, who alleged sexually abused in the St. Paul archdiocese.
[KDLT]
In 1999, a woman accused Dudley of having molested her in the 1970s. In 2002, a man accused Dudley of having fondled him as a boy in the 1950s. And later in 2002, a second woman charged Dudley with behaving inapropriately toward her in the 1960s.
Church officials claim a so-called church “investigation” could not substantiate any of the accusations
Because of archaic, predator-friendly statutes of limitations and deeply wounded, shame-filled victims, it’s likely no one will ever know the full truth of the allegations against Bishop Dudley. Even so, here’s what matters now:
It usually takes victims of childhood horror decades to find the courage and strength to speak up. So it’s very possible that in the months and years ahead, more who say they were assaulted by Bishop Dudley may speak up.
And often, so-called “church investigations” that purportedly “exonerate” accused clerics end up being reversed when other victims, witnesses or whistleblowers come forward later.
So why take the risk of hurting even more those who are already in pain, or of discouraging other child sex abuse victims from reporting child molesting clerics who may still be molesting kids now?
Adults have a simple choice: We can act in ways that make it harder or easier for victims to protect children by exposing predators. Sioux Falls Catholic officials are making it harder.
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