Saturday, March 31, 2012
Clerical abuse survivors asked: Has the Church supported you? · TheJournal.ie
Clerical abuse survivors asked: Has the Church supported you? · TheJournal.ie
research asking clergy sexual abuse survivors, or those abused by nuns, 'has the church in ireland supported you'.
this refers to those abused IN ireland either north or south, living in Ireland today, and those who may now live elsewhere.
please post where irish survivors might have access
thank you
research asking clergy sexual abuse survivors, or those abused by nuns, 'has the church in ireland supported you'.
this refers to those abused IN ireland either north or south, living in Ireland today, and those who may now live elsewhere.
please post where irish survivors might have access
thank you
Friday, March 30, 2012
Notification of Upcoming Safeguarding Review For The Irish Spiritan Province
Notification of Upcoming Safeguarding Review For The Irish Spiritan Province
A really important development looking at missionary orders. please post to all your links.
A really important development looking at missionary orders. please post to all your links.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Benedict XVI attacks bishops conniving with drug lords and paedophile Maciel - Vatican Insider
Benedict XVI attacks bishops conniving with drug lords and paedophile Maciel - Vatican Insider
yeh well, he didn't meet any Maciel victims did he?
yeh well, he didn't meet any Maciel victims did he?
Clerical power thwarts victims in Poland
Clerical power thwarts victims in Poland
we should 'rise up' no other way to go!
no apology by pope will mean anything while this sort of thing continues. hypocrites the lot of them!
we should 'rise up' no other way to go!
no apology by pope will mean anything while this sort of thing continues. hypocrites the lot of them!
Sexual Abuse Is Not Just A Catholic Problem | Via Meadia
Sexual Abuse Is Not Just A Catholic Problem | Via Meadia
dead right! fair is fair, lets support all victims of abuse perpetrated by those alleging they are 'god's chosen'!
dead right! fair is fair, lets support all victims of abuse perpetrated by those alleging they are 'god's chosen'!
News: stop baptist predators
News
it's time we focused on other denominations. all victims of pastors, clergy, ministers need justice. this isn't just a 'catholic' issue.
it's time we focused on other denominations. all victims of pastors, clergy, ministers need justice. this isn't just a 'catholic' issue.
Stop Church Child Abuse - Association of Child Abuse Lawyers
Stop Church Child Abuse - Association of Child Abuse Lawyers
we must press for public inquiries in the uk re clergy sexual abuse. in the case of the uk the church of england is in need of complete 'uncovering' after decades of silence as media focused on the catholic church. the victims of anglican clergy abusers now deserve for their plight to be heard loudly
we must press for public inquiries in the uk re clergy sexual abuse. in the case of the uk the church of england is in need of complete 'uncovering' after decades of silence as media focused on the catholic church. the victims of anglican clergy abusers now deserve for their plight to be heard loudly
Trial to expose 'decades of child sex abuse coverup' in the Catholic archdiocese of Philadelphia | Mail Online
Trial to expose 'decades of child sex abuse coverup' in the Catholic archdiocese of Philadelphia | Mail Online
hope this case finally proves the role of hiararchy and vatican in 'cover-up'
hope this case finally proves the role of hiararchy and vatican in 'cover-up'
Clergy child sexual abuse: the restorative justice paradigm
Clergy child sexual abuse: the restorative justice paradigm
i'm not a mad fan of 'restorative justice where child sexual abuse is concerned. nor in favour if it lets perpetrators or churches 'off the hook'.
i'm not a mad fan of 'restorative justice where child sexual abuse is concerned. nor in favour if it lets perpetrators or churches 'off the hook'.
Spiritual abuse Counsellor in the UK | Counselling and sexual abuse support
Spiritual abuse Counsellor in the UK | Counselling and sexual abuse support
This website is run by two very GOOD people. Both sit on MACSAS committee.
Well done - good work here
This website is run by two very GOOD people. Both sit on MACSAS committee.
Well done - good work here
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests not allowed to see Pope Benedict XVI - El Paso Times
Victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests not allowed to see Pope Benedict XVI - El Paso Times
London uk all over again. when victims ask to see pope they are refused. looks like no meeting has been set up for victims to meet pope in mexico even any CHOSEN few as is the usual practice.
disgraceful but no surprise
London uk all over again. when victims ask to see pope they are refused. looks like no meeting has been set up for victims to meet pope in mexico even any CHOSEN few as is the usual practice.
disgraceful but no surprise
Friday, March 23, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Vatican ends probe of clergy abuse in Ireland - The Washington Post
Vatican ends probe of clergy abuse in Ireland - The Washington Post
this document is complete and utter rubbish!
a few smacks on the wrists, a few recommendations but absolutely NOTHING of any use for victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
this document is complete and utter rubbish!
a few smacks on the wrists, a few recommendations but absolutely NOTHING of any use for victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Dutch Roman Catholic Church 'castrated at least 10 boys' - Telegraph
Dutch Roman Catholic Church 'castrated at least 10 boys' - Telegraph
will the outrages against children by clergy and hiararchy ever stop?
will the outrages against children by clergy and hiararchy ever stop?
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Priests kept working despite investigations
Priests kept working despite investigations
this is exactly why i oppose any apoligies from rome, or 'towards healing' programmes, or services of 'reconciliation and repentance'. until the church does what is JUSTICE for victims these efforts at supposed 'understanding' is hollow, fruitless and down right hypocrisy
this is exactly why i oppose any apoligies from rome, or 'towards healing' programmes, or services of 'reconciliation and repentance'. until the church does what is JUSTICE for victims these efforts at supposed 'understanding' is hollow, fruitless and down right hypocrisy
Friday, March 16, 2012
On The News : The betrayal of Father Guarnizo - Catholic Culture
On The News : The betrayal of Father Guarnizo - Catholic Culture
What an awful article. This is noy about clergy sexual abuse but how one priest refused holy communion to a lesbian woman at her mothers funeral. The author says the woman had no right to present herself for communion given her 'immoral ways', and says elsewhere that those who are 'wayward' are subject to damnation.
can this person and all who believe this drivel be really called CHRISTIAN.
pharasee
What an awful article. This is noy about clergy sexual abuse but how one priest refused holy communion to a lesbian woman at her mothers funeral. The author says the woman had no right to present herself for communion given her 'immoral ways', and says elsewhere that those who are 'wayward' are subject to damnation.
can this person and all who believe this drivel be really called CHRISTIAN.
pharasee
Victims object to pedophile priest's burial in full vestments
Victims object to pedophile priest's burial in full vestments
there is a huge gap between 'church understanding' and 'victims hurt'.
to say the church really understands the hurt of survivors is completely laughable. no conference in Rome reaches to the heart of how survivors feel. it's time we survivors stood up to tell the christian churches 'you do not get it' and furthermore 'you don't seem to want to get it'.
there is a huge gap between 'church understanding' and 'victims hurt'.
to say the church really understands the hurt of survivors is completely laughable. no conference in Rome reaches to the heart of how survivors feel. it's time we survivors stood up to tell the christian churches 'you do not get it' and furthermore 'you don't seem to want to get it'.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Catholic Church's "whistleblower"
The Catholic Church's "whistleblower"
archbishop diarmuid martin dublin.
a complex character. not all sweetness and roses by the way!
archbishop diarmuid martin dublin.
a complex character. not all sweetness and roses by the way!
Roman Catholic Church Attacks Sex Abuse Victims
Roman Catholic Church Attacks Sex Abuse Victims
we know whats going on...the catholic church is becoming vicious in its treatment of victims just as it apoligies, kisses floors and feet of victims(dublin). the hypocrisy is astounding
we know whats going on...the catholic church is becoming vicious in its treatment of victims just as it apoligies, kisses floors and feet of victims(dublin). the hypocrisy is astounding
THE CELTIC DIABLO: Reverend Brendan Smyth O.Prae
THE CELTIC DIABLO: Reverend Brendan Smyth O.Prae
ireland's most prolific sex abuser. he spent time in America where i think he abused also.
ireland's most prolific sex abuser. he spent time in America where i think he abused also.
Catholic sex abuse cases - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Catholic sex abuse cases - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
pretty comprehensive. worth reading but cannot know if all content okay!
pretty comprehensive. worth reading but cannot know if all content okay!
New safeguarding chairman appointed
New safeguarding chairman appointed
How independent can he be when his line managers are Bishops. He was picked by Bishops. wait and see, he might surprise us!
How independent can he be when his line managers are Bishops. He was picked by Bishops. wait and see, he might surprise us!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Stand Firm | Yet Another Sex Abuse Scandal by a member of the Episcopal clergy
Stand Firm | Yet Another Sex Abuse Scandal by a member of the Episcopal clergy
we must always remember child sexual abuse is perpetrated by clergy of all christian denominations and by church leaders of all religions. just we don't get to hear of it.
we must always remember child sexual abuse is perpetrated by clergy of all christian denominations and by church leaders of all religions. just we don't get to hear of it.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Catholic Church Puts Legal Pressure on Survivors’ Network - NYTimes.com
Catholic Church Puts Legal Pressure on Survivors’ Network - NYTimes.com
we can't let this dreadful attack on SNAP go on without a fight back
we can't let this dreadful attack on SNAP go on without a fight back
Monday, March 12, 2012
Cardinal Brady meets clerical abuse victims - RTÉ News
Cardinal Brady meets clerical abuse victims - RTÉ News
well he's good at meeting people...will anything come of it? most of these occasions are PR exercises. nothing more.
well he's good at meeting people...will anything come of it? most of these occasions are PR exercises. nothing more.
The Truth About Falsely Accused Priests
The Truth About Falsely Accused Priests
he quotes NO research to underpine his assertions. he states "i have heard that half of accusations are false" .
this is hardly evidence based truth!
he quotes NO research to underpine his assertions. he states "i have heard that half of accusations are false" .
this is hardly evidence based truth!
We should pray for all those clergy falsely accused of sexual abuse | CatholicHerald.co.uk
We should pray for all those clergy falsely accused of sexual abuse | CatholicHerald.co.uk
articles concerning 'falsely accused' priests proliferating in catholic press. there is a backlash beginning, and it's against victims. for every article implies there are huge numbers of false allegations. this is simply not true.
survivors must counter every article.
articles concerning 'falsely accused' priests proliferating in catholic press. there is a backlash beginning, and it's against victims. for every article implies there are huge numbers of false allegations. this is simply not true.
survivors must counter every article.
Friday, March 9, 2012
SNAP Director Admits to Publishing False Information
SNAP Director Admits to Publishing False Information
oh dear , oh dear,
this is not good. all survivor organisations must act professionally.
oh dear , oh dear,
this is not good. all survivor organisations must act professionally.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Reparation and Repentance: A Eucharistic Prayer Service for Ireland
Reparation and Repentance: A Eucharistic Prayer Service for Ireland
the cynical way the church draws in the faithful to atone for what the hiararchy did is disgraceful
the cynical way the church draws in the faithful to atone for what the hiararchy did is disgraceful
BBC News - Priests arrested in Eastbourne in sex abuse inquiry
BBC News - Priests arrested in Eastbourne in sex abuse inquiry
disgraceful events in chichester. also read baroness butler-schloss report on the chichester diocese website, particuarily the baroness addendum report!
disgraceful events in chichester. also read baroness butler-schloss report on the chichester diocese website, particuarily the baroness addendum report!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
URGENT : demand the Catholic Church in Kansas and St Louis afford privacy, confidentiality and safety to victims of clergy sexual abuse. withdraw this legal agaction against SNAP - NOW!
SNAP's critical legal battle for survivor privacy
Dear friends;
As you are a cherished friend to SNAP, we want to explain what Kansas City and St. Louis Catholic officials are doing to attack us and those who seek our help. We've included a lengthy "Q & A" here that outlines the details. But the bottom line is this: Catholic officials are desperately trying to conceal their wrong-doing by attacking victims. They're trying to silence victims, and others , by trying to severely weaken SNAP. In October, SNAP Director David Clohessy was served with a subpoena in Kansas City by church defense lawyers. They demanded emails, correspondence and other records (some going back 23 years) including deeply private conversations with victims, their names and the details of the abuse they suffered.
Last month, Clohessy and SNAP Outreach Director Barbara Dorris were hit with more subpoenas, this time from the St. Louis archdiocese. Naturally our first concern was, and remains, the privacy of victims, most of whom never have or never will speak publicly or take any kind of legal action. We also quickly realized, however, that these wide-ranging demands also sought communications between SNAP and thousands of other individuals we help: family members,witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists, therapists, concerned Catholics and law enforcement officials. Our first duty is to those who seek and sought our guidance. For that reason, we fought tooth and nail to keep David from having to testify. Ultimately, we lost that fight. David was deposed. But he adamantly refused to give any names or private details about victims. And we're refusing to turn over any documents with similar information.
The ramifications of these actions have already hit SNAP hard. Owing to massive legal bills which we cannot pay at this time, we have been forced to ask our attorney in Kansas City to withdraw from the case. The fact is we can no longer afford to pay him and still keep the lights on. We are seeking pro-bono help as the case moves forward and will update you as to our progress. Meanwhile in Kansas City, attorneys for the Catholic Church have moved forward with a "Motion to Compel" SNAP Director, David Clohessy to reveal private information about members and victims connected with SNAP and the case against Father Joseph Tierney. We will not reveal any of the information the church is requesting. The privacy of our survivors and members is absolutely paramount! So, David is preparing himself and his family as he faces jail time if necessary.
Over two decades ago, we in SNAP pledged ourselves to protect and help victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, police, prosecutors, journalists, in fact anyone who was working to stop and expose child sex crimes and cover ups. That promise has not and will not be broken, no matter what forces are arrayed against us. The fact that we have been so successful is the chief reason that we now find ourselves in this painful and threatening situation. However it is one we shall win.
Your support has been critical in our accomplishing our mission and is even more essential now. We, therefore, ask that you consider making a donation in order to help us meet the unprecedented challenge which faces us. In order to donate, simply go online to our donate page. Alternatively you can or mail it to SNAP: P.O. Box 6416, Chicago, Illinois 60680-6416 or call our Development department at (312) 455-1499. Meanwhile,. I want to assure you that SNAP remains as committed to end clergy sex crimes and cover ups as ever. These are difficult times, but we will prevail together.
Warm Regards,
Barbara Blaine
David Clohessy
FACT SHEET
What's the crisis facing SNAP?
Catholic officials in two Missouri dioceses are trying to force key SNAP staff people to answer hours of questions under oath about and turn over thousands of pages of confidential communications with victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, police, prosecutors, journalists and concerned parishioners. It's an unprecedented assault on crime victims, on those who help crime victims and on our self help group.
Who's affected by this?
This potentially affects any crime victim who wants or needs privacy. It also affects police, prosecutors, journalists, witnesses, whistleblowers, victims, self help groups, counseling agencies - literally anyone who helps victims and exposes criminals. Emboldened by church officials' legal successes, a rapist may now seek, and perhaps get, records and depositions from staff at the center his victim went to for help. A violent husband might get documents and depositions from staff at the domestic violence center where the spouse he battered sought refuge.
Why is it a crisis?
This is the most severe threat we in SNAP have ever faced, for at least three reasons. First, fewer people are stepping forward and seeking help, fearing that their identities and experiences will be turned over to lawyers for predator priests and corrupt bishops. Second, these legal attacks consume massive amounts of time that our volunteers and staff need to devote to protecting kids, exposing predators, helping victims, reforming laws, and deterring future child sex crimes and cover ups. Third, these moves are driving SNAP toward bankruptcy. (We've had to suddenly spend tens of thousands of dollars just fighting and dealing with the first subpoena and church officials seem determined to drag out this process for months and months.) Some of our current members now fear that we will turn over their private information. As such, they have requested that we remove from them our member list.
Has SNAP already been hurt?
Absolutely. We've already spent more than 300 person-hours going through files. For weeks, we've done little of what we normally do to "protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded." Instead, we've been forced to look long and hard for pro bono attorneys to help us. And we've spent hours and hours working with attorneys to fight motion after motion from church defense lawyers, prepare for depositions, etc.
Why are Catholic officials doing this?
We're convinced Catholic officials are trying to shut us down and shut victims up, while also deterring witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists and other from contacting us. There are lots of other theories. Some suggest that this is a move to distract the public and parishioners from the serious and on-going clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Kansas City diocese (where Bishop Robert Finn faces criminal charges for refusing, for months, to give evidence of child porn to police). Others feel the attack stems from our formal complaint at the International Criminal Court against top Vatican officials for continuing to enable and conceal child sex crimes. (That filing was in early September. We were hit with the first subpoena in late October.)
How exactly are Catholic officials mounting this attack?
They're trying to drag us in to two civil lawsuits in which we're not involved. (SNAP has, in fact, only filed one lawsuit in our history.) In Kansas City, it's John Doe BP v. Fr. Michael Tierney and the Kansas City diocese. In St. Louis, it's Jane Doe v. Fr. Joseph D. Ross and the St. Louis archdiocese. They have issued four wide-ranging subpoenas (one in Kansas City and three in St. Louis) on two SNAP leaders (David Clohessy and Barbara Dorris) demanding thousands of pages of emails and records involving many individuals who have never met the accused or the accusers or even heard of the lawsuits at issue. Earlier this month, Clohessy was deposed for more than six hours by five lawyers representing Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn and five Kansas City accused pedophile priests (Fr. Michael Tierney, Msgr. Thomas O'Brien, Fr. Mark Honhart, Fr. Francis McGlynn and Fr. Thomas Cronin).
How is SNAP responding?
We're doing all that we can to protect the privacy of people who contact us. (Our choices are limited, however, because we are not a party to either lawsuit. Church officials are shrewdly attacking us in a venue where we lack much power or many options.) In his deposition, Clohessy refused to answer many question or give virtually any information about our members, supporters, and donors or our contacts withfamily members, journalists, police, prosecutors, whistleblowers and concerned Catholics. We provided hundreds of pages of already-public documents (news releases, lawsuits, a print out of our website). But we are also refusing to provide hundreds more pages that we consider private under our Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, privacy, the Missouri rape shield law, and similar laws.
Are these two bishops acting alone?
We don't think so. This is the first time any SNAP staffer has been subpoenaed in 23 years, within weeks, and they've done it to two of our three professional staff. The first two subpoenas, though issued in different diocese by different lawyers, are virtually identical.
Are these two accused priests guilty?
The Kansas City priest (Tierney) has been suspended by his own bishop and faces at least five accusers in pending civil cases. The St. Louis priest (Ross) pled guilty in the late 1988 to molesting a boy. (After his sentence was completed, archdiocesan officials quietly put him back into a parish, warning no one. That's when and where he sexually assaulted this now 19 year old girl from 1998-2000.)
What about the claim that the Kansas City victim's attorney allegedly broke a "gag order?"
We in SNAP don't believe she did. And we're highly skeptical of this claim, in part because church officials refuse to take steps to formally accuse her with any wrongdoing. (They merely make the accusation without doing so in any forum where she could defend herself.) No one has found that she's done anything wrong. And we in SNAP didn't and couldn't violate any such "gag order" because none was issued against us.
What's next in the legal arena?
In St. Louis, we're trying to figure out who we can get to represent us. In Kansas City we expect lawyers for Tierney and Bishop Finn to try to get a judge to force us to give them even more information (both documents and deposition answers) soon.
How have journalists responded to these attacks?
The Missouri Press Association, representing 280 news outlets, has filed an amicus brief in court challenging the Kansas City subpoena as a threat to press freedom. The state's two largest newspapers, the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Kansas City Star, have editorialized against church officials and their lawyers. The National Catholic Reporter has also editorialized on their side. A link to these articles can be found here: www.snapnetwork.org/snaps_fight
In KC, isn't this an attack by the accused priest, not by Bishop Finn?
It's important to remember that Fr. Tierney has sworn to obey Bishop Finn and is still being paid by Finn. Finn is a monarch in charge of the whole diocese. So Finn could order Tierney to stop. Instead, Finn's lawyers are cooperating with Tierney's lawyers while Finn himself stays silent. (We also suspect that Finn is paying for Tierney's lawyer.) This is often the pattern in clergy sex abuse and cover up cases: the predator priest's lawyer plays "bad cop" while the complicit bishop's lawyer plays "good cop."
In St. Louis, the attack comes from Archbishop Robert Carlson, right?
Correct.
How do the two cases differ?
In Kansas City the subpoena was issued in late October and the deposition was January 2nd of this year. In St. Louis, the subpoenas were issued in early January and the depositions are set for February 22nd. In Kansas City, the priest (Tierney) is still a priest (so almost certainly still on the payroll) and lives there. In St. Louis, the priest (Ross) has been defrocked (so is NOT on the church payroll) and his whereabouts are unknown. In Kansas City, the victim is male, middle aged and repressed his memories. In St. Louis, the victim is female, in her teens and did NOT repress her memories.
How can we help?
Please go our website if you would like more information about the case athttp://www.snapnetwork.org/snaps_fight
When articles about the legal attacks appear, please make supportive comments on line (If you're not sure how to do that, contact the SNAP office 312 455 1499 or email SNAPDevelopment@gmail.com.
Letters to the editor of newspapers that write about this controversy are always helpful.
If you belong to or work for a group, especially one that might be affected by this assault on victims' privacy, please consider asking the group to support us.
In order to donate, simply go online to our donate page. Alternatively you can or mail it to SNAP: P.O. Box 6416, Chicago, Illinois 60680-6416 or call our Development department at (312) 455-1499.
Dr Margaret Kennedy Responds:
What is Happening in Kansas City & St Louis: SNAP battle for survivor privacy and all who support them.
It is with deep concern that all survivor groups supporting clergy abuse victims view the outrageous attack by Catholic Church lawyers to see carte blance everything on file in a survivor support organisation, namely SNAP (see below message from SNAP)
That the Church is agreeing with it lawyers to invade the privacy of victims in this way speaks volumes about the concerted efforts of Church officials to protect itself and its abusers above and beyond any victim of clergy sexual abuse.
Apologies from Rome, the recent conference organised by the Jesuits in Rome, 'visitations' to Irish Dioceses as if to show concern, are truly meaningless and only convey the double standards of the Catholic Church in the light of the wholescale onslought against SNAP and all the victims who bravely found a voice to come forward and seek support.
The repercussions of the legal actions by the Church in the above Dioceses is to drive support groups into liquidation/bankrupcy, stop all avenues of support to clergy victims and silence in fear any victim who wants to speak out. If the Church wins this battle then no support organisation for victims can survive as victims will not trust their experience to anyone if the Church can railroad their confidentiality in this fashion. This means victims will suffer extraordinary lonliness, despair, become suicidal and have no-where to turn to. That these two Dioceses don't 'care' about the repercussions to victims can only mean the Church has finally lost all claim to want to make redress and recompnse to victims of clergy sexual abuse.
The hypocrisy of Rome and the above Dioceses who cannot allow a support group privacy so that the well-being of victims is preserved is clear for all to see.
Now is the time for victims, their families and supporters to rise up against this 'war' against victims and their support groups especially since the Church still refuses to open its own files to legal and public scrutiny.
The whole machinary of this 'organisation' (it can no longer be called a CHURCH of God) is wholly based on a lie to Christ to service his people.
Dr Margaret Kennedy
MACSAS UK
Dear friends;
As you are a cherished friend to SNAP, we want to explain what Kansas City and St. Louis Catholic officials are doing to attack us and those who seek our help. We've included a lengthy "Q & A" here that outlines the details. But the bottom line is this: Catholic officials are desperately trying to conceal their wrong-doing by attacking victims. They're trying to silence victims, and others , by trying to severely weaken SNAP. In October, SNAP Director David Clohessy was served with a subpoena in Kansas City by church defense lawyers. They demanded emails, correspondence and other records (some going back 23 years) including deeply private conversations with victims, their names and the details of the abuse they suffered.
Last month, Clohessy and SNAP Outreach Director Barbara Dorris were hit with more subpoenas, this time from the St. Louis archdiocese. Naturally our first concern was, and remains, the privacy of victims, most of whom never have or never will speak publicly or take any kind of legal action. We also quickly realized, however, that these wide-ranging demands also sought communications between SNAP and thousands of other individuals we help: family members,witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists, therapists, concerned Catholics and law enforcement officials. Our first duty is to those who seek and sought our guidance. For that reason, we fought tooth and nail to keep David from having to testify. Ultimately, we lost that fight. David was deposed. But he adamantly refused to give any names or private details about victims. And we're refusing to turn over any documents with similar information.
The ramifications of these actions have already hit SNAP hard. Owing to massive legal bills which we cannot pay at this time, we have been forced to ask our attorney in Kansas City to withdraw from the case. The fact is we can no longer afford to pay him and still keep the lights on. We are seeking pro-bono help as the case moves forward and will update you as to our progress. Meanwhile in Kansas City, attorneys for the Catholic Church have moved forward with a "Motion to Compel" SNAP Director, David Clohessy to reveal private information about members and victims connected with SNAP and the case against Father Joseph Tierney. We will not reveal any of the information the church is requesting. The privacy of our survivors and members is absolutely paramount! So, David is preparing himself and his family as he faces jail time if necessary.
Over two decades ago, we in SNAP pledged ourselves to protect and help victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, police, prosecutors, journalists, in fact anyone who was working to stop and expose child sex crimes and cover ups. That promise has not and will not be broken, no matter what forces are arrayed against us. The fact that we have been so successful is the chief reason that we now find ourselves in this painful and threatening situation. However it is one we shall win.
Your support has been critical in our accomplishing our mission and is even more essential now. We, therefore, ask that you consider making a donation in order to help us meet the unprecedented challenge which faces us. In order to donate, simply go online to our donate page. Alternatively you can or mail it to SNAP: P.O. Box 6416, Chicago, Illinois 60680-6416 or call our Development department at (312) 455-1499. Meanwhile,. I want to assure you that SNAP remains as committed to end clergy sex crimes and cover ups as ever. These are difficult times, but we will prevail together.
Warm Regards,
Barbara Blaine
David Clohessy
FACT SHEET
What's the crisis facing SNAP?
Catholic officials in two Missouri dioceses are trying to force key SNAP staff people to answer hours of questions under oath about and turn over thousands of pages of confidential communications with victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, police, prosecutors, journalists and concerned parishioners. It's an unprecedented assault on crime victims, on those who help crime victims and on our self help group.
Who's affected by this?
This potentially affects any crime victim who wants or needs privacy. It also affects police, prosecutors, journalists, witnesses, whistleblowers, victims, self help groups, counseling agencies - literally anyone who helps victims and exposes criminals. Emboldened by church officials' legal successes, a rapist may now seek, and perhaps get, records and depositions from staff at the center his victim went to for help. A violent husband might get documents and depositions from staff at the domestic violence center where the spouse he battered sought refuge.
Why is it a crisis?
This is the most severe threat we in SNAP have ever faced, for at least three reasons. First, fewer people are stepping forward and seeking help, fearing that their identities and experiences will be turned over to lawyers for predator priests and corrupt bishops. Second, these legal attacks consume massive amounts of time that our volunteers and staff need to devote to protecting kids, exposing predators, helping victims, reforming laws, and deterring future child sex crimes and cover ups. Third, these moves are driving SNAP toward bankruptcy. (We've had to suddenly spend tens of thousands of dollars just fighting and dealing with the first subpoena and church officials seem determined to drag out this process for months and months.) Some of our current members now fear that we will turn over their private information. As such, they have requested that we remove from them our member list.
Has SNAP already been hurt?
Absolutely. We've already spent more than 300 person-hours going through files. For weeks, we've done little of what we normally do to "protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded." Instead, we've been forced to look long and hard for pro bono attorneys to help us. And we've spent hours and hours working with attorneys to fight motion after motion from church defense lawyers, prepare for depositions, etc.
Why are Catholic officials doing this?
We're convinced Catholic officials are trying to shut us down and shut victims up, while also deterring witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists and other from contacting us. There are lots of other theories. Some suggest that this is a move to distract the public and parishioners from the serious and on-going clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Kansas City diocese (where Bishop Robert Finn faces criminal charges for refusing, for months, to give evidence of child porn to police). Others feel the attack stems from our formal complaint at the International Criminal Court against top Vatican officials for continuing to enable and conceal child sex crimes. (That filing was in early September. We were hit with the first subpoena in late October.)
How exactly are Catholic officials mounting this attack?
They're trying to drag us in to two civil lawsuits in which we're not involved. (SNAP has, in fact, only filed one lawsuit in our history.) In Kansas City, it's John Doe BP v. Fr. Michael Tierney and the Kansas City diocese. In St. Louis, it's Jane Doe v. Fr. Joseph D. Ross and the St. Louis archdiocese. They have issued four wide-ranging subpoenas (one in Kansas City and three in St. Louis) on two SNAP leaders (David Clohessy and Barbara Dorris) demanding thousands of pages of emails and records involving many individuals who have never met the accused or the accusers or even heard of the lawsuits at issue. Earlier this month, Clohessy was deposed for more than six hours by five lawyers representing Kansas City Bishop Robert Finn and five Kansas City accused pedophile priests (Fr. Michael Tierney, Msgr. Thomas O'Brien, Fr. Mark Honhart, Fr. Francis McGlynn and Fr. Thomas Cronin).
How is SNAP responding?
We're doing all that we can to protect the privacy of people who contact us. (Our choices are limited, however, because we are not a party to either lawsuit. Church officials are shrewdly attacking us in a venue where we lack much power or many options.) In his deposition, Clohessy refused to answer many question or give virtually any information about our members, supporters, and donors or our contacts withfamily members, journalists, police, prosecutors, whistleblowers and concerned Catholics. We provided hundreds of pages of already-public documents (news releases, lawsuits, a print out of our website). But we are also refusing to provide hundreds more pages that we consider private under our Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, privacy, the Missouri rape shield law, and similar laws.
Are these two bishops acting alone?
We don't think so. This is the first time any SNAP staffer has been subpoenaed in 23 years, within weeks, and they've done it to two of our three professional staff. The first two subpoenas, though issued in different diocese by different lawyers, are virtually identical.
Are these two accused priests guilty?
The Kansas City priest (Tierney) has been suspended by his own bishop and faces at least five accusers in pending civil cases. The St. Louis priest (Ross) pled guilty in the late 1988 to molesting a boy. (After his sentence was completed, archdiocesan officials quietly put him back into a parish, warning no one. That's when and where he sexually assaulted this now 19 year old girl from 1998-2000.)
What about the claim that the Kansas City victim's attorney allegedly broke a "gag order?"
We in SNAP don't believe she did. And we're highly skeptical of this claim, in part because church officials refuse to take steps to formally accuse her with any wrongdoing. (They merely make the accusation without doing so in any forum where she could defend herself.) No one has found that she's done anything wrong. And we in SNAP didn't and couldn't violate any such "gag order" because none was issued against us.
What's next in the legal arena?
In St. Louis, we're trying to figure out who we can get to represent us. In Kansas City we expect lawyers for Tierney and Bishop Finn to try to get a judge to force us to give them even more information (both documents and deposition answers) soon.
How have journalists responded to these attacks?
The Missouri Press Association, representing 280 news outlets, has filed an amicus brief in court challenging the Kansas City subpoena as a threat to press freedom. The state's two largest newspapers, the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Kansas City Star, have editorialized against church officials and their lawyers. The National Catholic Reporter has also editorialized on their side. A link to these articles can be found here: www.snapnetwork.org/snaps_fight
In KC, isn't this an attack by the accused priest, not by Bishop Finn?
It's important to remember that Fr. Tierney has sworn to obey Bishop Finn and is still being paid by Finn. Finn is a monarch in charge of the whole diocese. So Finn could order Tierney to stop. Instead, Finn's lawyers are cooperating with Tierney's lawyers while Finn himself stays silent. (We also suspect that Finn is paying for Tierney's lawyer.) This is often the pattern in clergy sex abuse and cover up cases: the predator priest's lawyer plays "bad cop" while the complicit bishop's lawyer plays "good cop."
In St. Louis, the attack comes from Archbishop Robert Carlson, right?
Correct.
How do the two cases differ?
In Kansas City the subpoena was issued in late October and the deposition was January 2nd of this year. In St. Louis, the subpoenas were issued in early January and the depositions are set for February 22nd. In Kansas City, the priest (Tierney) is still a priest (so almost certainly still on the payroll) and lives there. In St. Louis, the priest (Ross) has been defrocked (so is NOT on the church payroll) and his whereabouts are unknown. In Kansas City, the victim is male, middle aged and repressed his memories. In St. Louis, the victim is female, in her teens and did NOT repress her memories.
How can we help?
Please go our website if you would like more information about the case athttp://www.snapnetwork.org/snaps_fight
When articles about the legal attacks appear, please make supportive comments on line (If you're not sure how to do that, contact the SNAP office 312 455 1499 or email SNAPDevelopment@gmail.com.
Letters to the editor of newspapers that write about this controversy are always helpful.
If you belong to or work for a group, especially one that might be affected by this assault on victims' privacy, please consider asking the group to support us.
In order to donate, simply go online to our donate page. Alternatively you can or mail it to SNAP: P.O. Box 6416, Chicago, Illinois 60680-6416 or call our Development department at (312) 455-1499.
Dr Margaret Kennedy Responds:
What is Happening in Kansas City & St Louis: SNAP battle for survivor privacy and all who support them.
It is with deep concern that all survivor groups supporting clergy abuse victims view the outrageous attack by Catholic Church lawyers to see carte blance everything on file in a survivor support organisation, namely SNAP (see below message from SNAP)
That the Church is agreeing with it lawyers to invade the privacy of victims in this way speaks volumes about the concerted efforts of Church officials to protect itself and its abusers above and beyond any victim of clergy sexual abuse.
Apologies from Rome, the recent conference organised by the Jesuits in Rome, 'visitations' to Irish Dioceses as if to show concern, are truly meaningless and only convey the double standards of the Catholic Church in the light of the wholescale onslought against SNAP and all the victims who bravely found a voice to come forward and seek support.
The repercussions of the legal actions by the Church in the above Dioceses is to drive support groups into liquidation/bankrupcy, stop all avenues of support to clergy victims and silence in fear any victim who wants to speak out. If the Church wins this battle then no support organisation for victims can survive as victims will not trust their experience to anyone if the Church can railroad their confidentiality in this fashion. This means victims will suffer extraordinary lonliness, despair, become suicidal and have no-where to turn to. That these two Dioceses don't 'care' about the repercussions to victims can only mean the Church has finally lost all claim to want to make redress and recompnse to victims of clergy sexual abuse.
The hypocrisy of Rome and the above Dioceses who cannot allow a support group privacy so that the well-being of victims is preserved is clear for all to see.
Now is the time for victims, their families and supporters to rise up against this 'war' against victims and their support groups especially since the Church still refuses to open its own files to legal and public scrutiny.
The whole machinary of this 'organisation' (it can no longer be called a CHURCH of God) is wholly based on a lie to Christ to service his people.
Dr Margaret Kennedy
MACSAS UK
Catholic Church at 'breaking point' over abuse - RTÉ News
Catholic Church at 'breaking point' over abuse - RTÉ News
There is NO WAY I want to see the Pope set foot in Ireland during the Eucharistic Congress. The ability of right wing/conservative Catholics to deify this man, this position in this Church is obscene.
Jesus may well have appointed Peter to be the 'head' of the Church but as I see it the sucessive Popes over the centuries have removed themselves COMPLETELY from any Jesus-vision at the start! Power, corruption, sheer evil and nastiness has come from that roost in Rome, especially where abuse of children is concerned that this Vatican elite can NEVER in my eyes be redeemed.
It is now up to the Christian Catholic lay person to redeem themselves from the papacy and establish the heart of Jesus amongst us as was intended.
There is NO WAY I want to see the Pope set foot in Ireland during the Eucharistic Congress. The ability of right wing/conservative Catholics to deify this man, this position in this Church is obscene.
Jesus may well have appointed Peter to be the 'head' of the Church but as I see it the sucessive Popes over the centuries have removed themselves COMPLETELY from any Jesus-vision at the start! Power, corruption, sheer evil and nastiness has come from that roost in Rome, especially where abuse of children is concerned that this Vatican elite can NEVER in my eyes be redeemed.
It is now up to the Christian Catholic lay person to redeem themselves from the papacy and establish the heart of Jesus amongst us as was intended.
Friday, March 2, 2012
scandalous behaviour Diocese of Chichester UK (Anglican)
Diocese of Chichester UK Scandalous behiour. See Their website and Butler-Scloss addendum report.
This letter is written by our previous MACSAS Chair.Still on our committee!!
Joint Chair of the Joint Safeguarding Liaison Group
Thursday 1st March 2012
Dear Bishop Paul Butler
Re Letter issued 29th February 2012
it is with growing concern that we watch the unfolding of events in the Diocese of Chichester. Far from these concerns being situated firmly in the past as your letter issued yesterday stated, the ongoing concerns relate to the conduct of Bishops and other senior Church of England officials over the past year.
Whilst I appreciate that the letter published yesterday was actually drafted sometime in the autumn of 2011 it is very clear that the Addendum to the May 2011 Review Rport issued by Baroness Butler Sloss on 28th January 2012 is a damning indictment of both Bishops Nicholas Reade and Wallace Benn. The Addendum Report sets out how both men repeatedly misled the Baroness during her inquiry and in particular in connection with the handling of Cotton after his arrest in 1997. She actually stated that she very much regretted that she had accepted the information given by Nicholas Read and Wallace Benn. She also noted that the information she obtained by other sources was not made available to Roger Meekings when he wrote the first review in 2010.
It is utterly scandalous for two Bishops to have treated this serious inquiry with such disregard as to feel it is acceptable and appropriate to repeatedly mislead a senior and well respected member of the House of Lords in an attempt to avoid criticism and/or responsibility. The clear evidence now obtained by Baroness Butler-Sloss is that +Reade and +Benn together allowed Cotton to continue in active ministry within parishes where there were children after his arrest, after they knew he was a convicted child sex offender and after + Wallace accepted he knew him to be a guilty man.
Had the Joint Safeguarding Liaision Group been at all serious in the stated intention of ensuring that such appalling disegard for the welfare of children as exhibited by senior church officials up to and including a former Archbishop of Canterbury never happened again the letter issued yesterday would have condemned the ongoing attempts by senior church officials to avoid liability and responsibility for allowing a known and prolific paedophile to continue in ministry up to his death. The letter would have set out the Liaision Group's very serious concern that the institutional dynamics and conduct now revealed in the Addendum report to have being ongoing in 2011 reflected the conduct being apologised for in the 1960s. The letter would have set out the need for a wholly independent inquiry into the Diocese of Chichester and the handling of the many cases of abuse now known to have been reported over past decades concerning a disturbingly high number of vicars and more senior clergy. What else are senior clergy who served in the Diocese of Chichester over the past five decades still covering up?
Were the Joint Safeguarding Liaison Group sincere in the expression of 'unreserved apology' and the earnest desire for better responses, the letter would have expressed an appropriate level of outrage at the conduct of the Bishop of Blackburn, Nicholas Reade and the Bishop of Lewis, Wallace Benn during the Butler-Sloss review and would have made it clear to all Bishops and senior clergy within the Church of England and the Methodist Church that such conduct and such attitudes are wholly unacceptable where the welfare and safety of children are concerned, and will result in a full investigation by police and disciplinary measures being instigated by the Churches.
Instead we read yesterday morning that the Bishop of Blackburn Nicholas Reade is to take early retirement after his many years of dedicated service within the Church of England, and we already know that Bishop Wallace Benn is retiring this year. These men should be facing censure, investigation and serious questioning over their part in the covering up of abuse in the Diocese of Chichester which appears from the evidence now being gathered to have gone on for decades.
I sincerely hope that all those copied into this email letter reflect upon what has transpired over the past year in the Diocese of Chichester and consider how the Joint Safeguarding Liaison Group can ensure that such outrageous conduct is condemned both now and if it should ever occur again elsewhere in the future. Clearly with further actions being taken in Chichester in the coming weeks there will be further opportunities for the Liasion Group to respond appropriately.
Yours faithfully
Anne Lawrence
This letter is written by our previous MACSAS Chair.Still on our committee!!
Joint Chair of the Joint Safeguarding Liaison Group
Thursday 1st March 2012
Dear Bishop Paul Butler
Re Letter issued 29th February 2012
it is with growing concern that we watch the unfolding of events in the Diocese of Chichester. Far from these concerns being situated firmly in the past as your letter issued yesterday stated, the ongoing concerns relate to the conduct of Bishops and other senior Church of England officials over the past year.
Whilst I appreciate that the letter published yesterday was actually drafted sometime in the autumn of 2011 it is very clear that the Addendum to the May 2011 Review Rport issued by Baroness Butler Sloss on 28th January 2012 is a damning indictment of both Bishops Nicholas Reade and Wallace Benn. The Addendum Report sets out how both men repeatedly misled the Baroness during her inquiry and in particular in connection with the handling of Cotton after his arrest in 1997. She actually stated that she very much regretted that she had accepted the information given by Nicholas Read and Wallace Benn. She also noted that the information she obtained by other sources was not made available to Roger Meekings when he wrote the first review in 2010.
It is utterly scandalous for two Bishops to have treated this serious inquiry with such disregard as to feel it is acceptable and appropriate to repeatedly mislead a senior and well respected member of the House of Lords in an attempt to avoid criticism and/or responsibility. The clear evidence now obtained by Baroness Butler-Sloss is that +Reade and +Benn together allowed Cotton to continue in active ministry within parishes where there were children after his arrest, after they knew he was a convicted child sex offender and after + Wallace accepted he knew him to be a guilty man.
Had the Joint Safeguarding Liaision Group been at all serious in the stated intention of ensuring that such appalling disegard for the welfare of children as exhibited by senior church officials up to and including a former Archbishop of Canterbury never happened again the letter issued yesterday would have condemned the ongoing attempts by senior church officials to avoid liability and responsibility for allowing a known and prolific paedophile to continue in ministry up to his death. The letter would have set out the Liaision Group's very serious concern that the institutional dynamics and conduct now revealed in the Addendum report to have being ongoing in 2011 reflected the conduct being apologised for in the 1960s. The letter would have set out the need for a wholly independent inquiry into the Diocese of Chichester and the handling of the many cases of abuse now known to have been reported over past decades concerning a disturbingly high number of vicars and more senior clergy. What else are senior clergy who served in the Diocese of Chichester over the past five decades still covering up?
Were the Joint Safeguarding Liaison Group sincere in the expression of 'unreserved apology' and the earnest desire for better responses, the letter would have expressed an appropriate level of outrage at the conduct of the Bishop of Blackburn, Nicholas Reade and the Bishop of Lewis, Wallace Benn during the Butler-Sloss review and would have made it clear to all Bishops and senior clergy within the Church of England and the Methodist Church that such conduct and such attitudes are wholly unacceptable where the welfare and safety of children are concerned, and will result in a full investigation by police and disciplinary measures being instigated by the Churches.
Instead we read yesterday morning that the Bishop of Blackburn Nicholas Reade is to take early retirement after his many years of dedicated service within the Church of England, and we already know that Bishop Wallace Benn is retiring this year. These men should be facing censure, investigation and serious questioning over their part in the covering up of abuse in the Diocese of Chichester which appears from the evidence now being gathered to have gone on for decades.
I sincerely hope that all those copied into this email letter reflect upon what has transpired over the past year in the Diocese of Chichester and consider how the Joint Safeguarding Liaison Group can ensure that such outrageous conduct is condemned both now and if it should ever occur again elsewhere in the future. Clearly with further actions being taken in Chichester in the coming weeks there will be further opportunities for the Liasion Group to respond appropriately.
Yours faithfully
Anne Lawrence
Gardai Claim Improvement in Handling of Child Abuse Cases
Gardai Claim Improvement in Handling of Child Abuse Cases
An Irish Story. I don't believe for a minute things have changed much
An Irish Story. I don't believe for a minute things have changed much
UK couple convicted of 'witchcraft' murder - RTÉ News
UK couple convicted of 'witchcraft' murder - RTÉ News
still a big problem . but lets not be complacent - we white folk. There is 'deliverance' ministry in white majority Churches where ministers and priests use 'hands on' healing (sic) to sexually abuse women (and some men) . May not be on the lines of this barbaric killing of a young child but it is there and deserves attention
still a big problem . but lets not be complacent - we white folk. There is 'deliverance' ministry in white majority Churches where ministers and priests use 'hands on' healing (sic) to sexually abuse women (and some men) . May not be on the lines of this barbaric killing of a young child but it is there and deserves attention
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)