NEW JERSEY
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Friday, Jan. 15, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
Again, Newark Catholic officials, including Archbishop John Myers, are knowingly putting kids in harm’s way by keeping credible accusations of child sex crimes from parishioners and the public.
[NJ.com]
In October, Fr. Michael “Mitch” Walters “left ministry” because of child sex abuse allegations. But violating common sense, common decency and the US Catholic bishops’ abuse policy, Myers kept silent about this. Shame on him, on his PR man Jim Goodness, and on every single Newark Catholic official unless they publicly denounce this irresponsible, hurtful and selfish silence by Myers.
In the three months since Fr. Walters’ removal, we can’t help but wonder how many victims he may have intimidated, how much evidence he may have destroyed, how many witnesses he may have threatened, how many whistleblowers he may have discredited, how many alibis he may have fabricated and how many other kids he may have abused.
Thanks to Archbishop Myers, Fr. Walters has had ample opportunity to do all this, especially since Myers hasn’t insisted that Fr. Walters go to a remote, secure, independent treatment center far away from New Jersey families whose trust he has won over decades of contact.
We hope every single person who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups in New Jersey to summon the strength to speak up. It’s crucial that police and prosecutors be told, no matter how small, old or seemingly insignificant the information or suspicions might be.
Myers and his staff – including Goodness – continue to endanger kids. So all the rest of us must double down on our efforts to protect them, even if it may mean jeopardizing church careers.
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