CONNECTICUT
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 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)
A new book says that a high profile and controversial Connecticut-based Catholic religious order “invests in companies involved in the arms race, pornography and high-end real estate” and a Catholic journalist says this may make “a mockery” of Francis’ more progressive agenda.
In The National Catholic Reporter, veteran investigative journalist Jason Berry reports that the Legion of Christ is pilloried in a new book. Berry calls the Legion “only marginally reformed.” We think that’s a generous assessment. We believe it’s still a secretive cult-like group more dedicated to enriching itself than protecting kids, exposing enablers, or ousting predators.
We urge Francis to denounce the Legion. We urge caring Catholics and citizens to boycott the Legion’s hotel and pontifical complex in Jerusalem (the Notre Dame Institute), its building company (the ECO Development Group, a.k.a. Equipo de Coordinación de Obras, SC), and its travel agency, New Gate Tours (a.k.a. Artic SA de CV) with branches in the USA, Italy and Spain.
We hope every single person who has seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups in the Legion of Christ – whether by Legion founder Fr. Marcial Maciel or others – will speak up, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and start healing.
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