SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS

March 2009 SNAP Newsletter

From the Editor SNAP speaks out on the appointment of Dear Friends, Timothy Dolan as archbishop of City When the first articles ran in early 2002 about the abuse By: John Pilmaier announcement, SNAP crisis many felt that within a year or two the problem would be solved. held a press event on Survivors would have found is one of the steps of Saint justice and healing, predators the largest and most Patrick’s Cathedral would be behind bars and the powerful in the helping to give the hierarchy that shielded them would be in exile. Yet here we are seven , with 2.5 world a more years later still facing the same million parishioners and balanced picture of issues. With your help, we have nearly 400 churches. the new archbishop. made great progress but the battle Cardinal will SNAP members from is far from over. retire and Archbishop several states worked SNAP continues to expose new predators. Our dedicated Timothy Dolan will replace to gather information, volunteers who answer the helpline him on April 15th. Dolan documents, court hear from new survivors almost has been described as a records and media every day. Parishioners are defender of Roman accounts of Dolan’s learning about ways they can protect the innocent and the Catholic orthodoxy, a man record on clergy sex vulnerable. Books are being known for his energy, wit abuse. In early March Peter being made Archbishop of written by survivors, historians and and warmth. Isely, SNAP Midwest Milwaukee in 2002. While psychologists. Laws are being SNAP immediately Director and John Pilmaier, there, he lived in the same changed to give survivors more released a fact sheet with a SNAP leader in rectory with a credibly time to report these crimes and the world is beginning to realize how specific cases where Dolan Milwaukee again stood on accused child molesting widespread the problem has had failed in his duty to the steps of St. Patrick’s priest (Fr. Michael become. protect the innocent and Cathedral with case after Campbell) and minimized I recently heard one of the the vulnerable. Failed to case where Dolan failed to Campbell’s crimes by characters on a sitcom say, “that saying that “the would be as responsible as letting reach out to survivors. take action even though he a priest babysit.” While that is a Failed to follow the ’s was aware of the cleric’s inappropriateness (the very sad statement, it does testify command to “to do history of abuse. predator) so owned up to to the fact that all your hard work everything in his power” to Dolan had served as a was not with a child and has not been in vain. People realize help survivors. Within 12 point-person for abuse that he trusts (the priest) so that just because a person has a position that gives them trust and hours of the claims in Saint Louis before much that he has and will respect it does not mean they are incapable of molesting. We hope to see you in In just one month, SNAP exposes five new predators Washington, DC this summer at our annual conference the weekend of in Texas & Arizona August 7-9. It’s going to be an amazing event with great speakers, By: Barbara Garcia Boehland were publicly disclosed only clerics had been informative breakout sessions and at a SNAP news suspended: Father Loren the chance to see old friends and Late last year, because conferences in Phoenix and Riebe and Suttle.) SNAP make new ones. You can register online at of credible allegations of later in San Antonio, where members were, of course, http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap child sex abuse, officials the local archbishop quietly concerned that no real _conferences/conference_2009/ho quietly suspended two let Suttle move to and live warning was given to the w_to_page.html or fill out the clerics: Fr. Charles H. Miller at an unsuspecting . public. registration form on page 6. from a Texas university and (The Phoenix had The Miller allegations Brother Richard Suttle from posted small notices on were publicly disclosed at Barbara Dorris an Arizona elementary their website and diocesan SNAP events in St. Louis school. newspaper that two and San Antonio. He The Suttle allegations accused child molesting Continued on p. 4 SNAP Newsletter Page 2

SNAP speaks out cont. Corporate Matching Gifts

Continued on p. 2 continues to leave known clerical SNAP depends on donations to sustain continue to go to him for confession. offenders working or presenting our work. Many corporations have themselves as clergy in good standing in the Milwaukee archdiocese, a direct Just a few months later the matching gift programs. But they won't violation of the Dallas charter. Virtually archbishop disclosed that the include us on their list of charity every single member of the senior allegations against Campbell had, in management who plotted and selections for employees unless an fact, involved a child and had been executed the cover up of child sexual substantiated. The other cleric, living employee requests that our name be abuse under Dolan’s predecessor, with Dolan, is currently serving a 15 added. Do you or someone you know Rembert Weakland, are still in their year prison sentence for abusing a chancery posts. According to work for a corporation with this kind of then 10 year old child. Dolan wrote a Weakland, Dolan has not once talked letter to the judge asking for leniency program? Would you be willing to with him about the 67 known clerical for the predator. sex offenders in the archdiocese. request that SNAP be added to the list His track record in Milwaukee is no SNAP fears that given his past for possible donations? If so, please e- better. He failed to forward to track record of failing to work with mail the name of your corporation and Wisconsin police direct admissions of police and prosecutors, his willingness guilt from clergy child rapists, even your contact information to: to shield predators and his lack of from clergy who were subsequently concern for the safety of the innocent [email protected] criminally charged and convicted. He and vulnerable that Dolan will not be

Picture this Save a tree! Do you have a photo of Postage and printing costs are increasing. The yourself at the age you were world needs more trees not more trash. SNAP when you were abused? wants to be good stewards of your donations Willing to allow your childhood photo to be made and a good friend to the environment. If you are public? SNAP uses these holding a copy of this newsletter in your hand photos to remind people we consider sharing your email with SNAP, save a are working to protect kids. tree! If you have not received an email from Even if you believe that SNAP recently, you might want to be sure we SNAP has your photo please have your current email address. Please send consider sending it to us. your email address to: [email protected].

Do you have a picture of a predator? When doing Please know that SNAP never sells nor shares our media events we are often asked for a photo. Not only does this help the media it often helps people member list with anyone. remember events and facts about the predator. It may also help other victims abused by your perpetrator. Frequently survivors find these photos in their family albums with graduation, First Communion, Confirmation and wedding photos.

If you have such a photo, mail a copy to SNAP, 700 North Green Street, #504, , IL 60642 or scan and send electronically to [email protected]. SNAP Newsletter Page 3 Spring Donate to Help SNAP Cleaning Many of us have Please consider becoming a treasures we never sustaining member of SNAP. use or even Sustainers pledge to send SNAP a set remember we own. Do you have a amount every month to help the copy of The Official organization grown in size and Catholic Directory or a copy of your diocesan or strength. Your donations allow us to parish directory? Please consider donating them protect the vulnerable and to heal to SNAP. These books are a valuable research the wounded. Your help will protect tool, allowing us to research the work history of predators and their current positions in the church. children. Sign up to become a sustaining member on our website Please send to SNAP, 700 North Green Street, SNAPnetwork.org or you can join by #504, Chicago, Illinois 60642. filling out the enclosed envelope.

Vatican case By: Peter Isely For the first time in history, a those assaults. It also signals that the Justice asking for an investigation of childhood victim of sexual assault by Vatican is not above the law." the American bishops and the an American priest may be able to The case involves Fr. Andrew Vatican’s practice of transferring hold the Vatican accountable for Ronan, who is accused of molesting known child molesters across state policies, procedures and practices that kids in his native . He was then and international boundaries, using have resulted in the widespread sent to Chicago, where he allegedly church funded and operated “retreat” of children. In a abused three boys, and finally or “treatment” facilities to essentially landmark 59 page decision issued on transferred to an Oregon Catholic “launder” sex offenders in order to March 2nd, a three judge panel in school, where he reportedly assaulted thwart and avoid criminal prosecution. Portland, Oregon ruled that a man the victim in this case. In April of 2008, when Pope who was sexually assaulted in the Ronan is now deceased. Benedict XVI visited the United 1960s by a priest can pursue his civil SNAP has long advocated that the States, SNAP leaders called for global lawsuit for damages against the Holy child sexual abuse and cover up crisis initiatives to investigate, disrupt and See. in the United States has to be viewed prosecute clergy sex offenders Attorneys for the victim as part of a much larger global worldwide, starting with their successfully argued that “in a rigid phenomenon whose causes and immediate compliance by the Vatican hierarchy like the , consequences originate in the unique with the UN Charter for the Protection decisions come from the Vatican, so global structure of the Catholic of the Rights of Children. it's crucial that the Vatican be held Church, where only the Pope can hire Also during the Pope’s spring visit, responsible for on-going cover ups of or fire a priest. After all, it is the Cardinal William Levada, former clergy sex crimes." They say Vatican that assigns, re-assigns and archbishop of San Francisco and now the ruling sends a clear signal that appoints the bishops and religious head of the Vatican’s powerful anyone who enables American order provincials who then transfer Congregation for the Propagation of children to be molested will face legal and conceal clergy sex offenders. the Faith, told Time Magazine that so consequences: “It will help prevent In 2004, SNAP submitted a “white many child sex abuse cases from future child assaults and cover ups of paper” to the U.S. Department of Continued on p. 5 SNAP Newsletter Page 4 SNAP exposes five new predators cont. worked in both cities. A brave and nine months (according to the San Suttle, Miller, Zumaya and persistent survivor fought for years to Antonio Express News). Church Hernandez are still on the church's get his supervisors to admit, in writing, officials also admit they've heard other payroll. Suttle is a Claretian and Miller that he was credibly accused. SNAP allegations against two of these is a Marianist. used those documents to alert priests. But they kept silent, warning We are grateful to each person - parents, parishioners and the public no one about potentially dangerous survivor and supporter - who helped about him. predators who still walk free. make these crucial disclosures A few weeks later, San Antonio's This on-going secrecy, SNAP feels, possible. archbishop finally disclosed to a few is unfair to parents and reckless to parishioners that Fr. Louis White, Fr. kids. It gives predators time to Larry Hernandez and Fr. David fabricate alibis, threaten witnesses, Zumaya also were credibly accused of intimidate victims, destroy evidence molesting a boy. However, an and even flee the country (as archdiocesan staffer admits they've apparently Zumaya has done, back to known about the report for at least Mexico).

Grants, Foundations and Corporations Jeff Dion, the national While individual donors always have and always will be SNAP’s director of the Crime financial backbone, we are working harder to ensure the long Victims Bar Association, term growth of our organization by seeking grants from who has long worked with foundations. If you know of someone who works for, has victims of violent crime, connections with, or is on the board of a foundation, please says that contact [email protected].

abuse happens in The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is “isolation, recovery awarded to the members of Independent Charities happens in of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent community. review, been able to certify, document, and ” demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet No truer words about what the highest standards of public accountability, has caused this whole crisis program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. and the key to recovery These standards include those required by the US have ever been spoken. Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal SNAP truly is a community Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive of generous, dedicated SNAP AWARDED in the world. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating volunteers. Thank you for in the United States today, it is estimated that all you do to support others “SEAL OF EXCELLENCE” fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed on the healing journey. these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal. SNAP Newsletter Page 5

2009 SNAP Board Members How You Can Help SNAP

Have you benefited from SNAP? Would you be willing to write a —President brief letter of support explaining how SNAP has helped you? The —Executive letters will be used in our application packets sent to charitable Director foundations. We'd welcome letters from survivors, their families Laura Barrett—Vice President and supporters. Perhaps SNAP encouraged you to come Mary Grant—Treasurer forward. Perhaps a support group or a help line was a turning

John Shuster—Board Member point. Or maybe you felt comforted by SNAP members who

Frank Douglas—Board Member turned out when your predator was on trial. Letters should be limited to one‐page, with the salutation, "Dear Board of Steve Theisen—Board Member Directors”. Mail your signed letter to: SNAP Support Letter, 700 Esther Miller—Board Member N. Green St., Suite 504, Chicago, IL 60622. Or scan and send a ^ signed copy by email to: [email protected]

Vatican Case cont. around the globe are being forwarded reaching the 6,000 mark. Each year, transparency and accountability for to his office that there is a large in their annual self-reports, bishops clergy sex crimes begins with and “backlog” of cases. and religious order provincials are ends in , starting with the Pope Levada’s stunning admissions acknowledging never before identified and extending to the entire global establishes that top officials directly molesters. Using the percentage of hierarchy of the church. under the Pope are collecting, U.S. clergy involved in child sex The defense attorney for the centralizing and archiving criminal crimes and extrapolate that Vatican in the Portland case argued evidence of thousands of child sex percentage to the number of clergy that the cannot be brought crimes committed by priests around across the globe, it is estimated that into a civil suit because it is a the globe, raising disturbing and some 30,000 priest pedophiles may sovereign country and falls under the largely unanswered questions that are be operating in parishes and schools Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. the heart of the Portland lawsuit: Why around the world, the vast majority of The appeals court ruled that the is the Vatican investigating child rape them in countries not protected by actions alleged in the complaint are an cases from almost every continent on even the most basic human rights exception to that act. earth? Why isn’t the Pope immediately provisions. These countries also The case for the victim was forwarding this evidence to national happen to be where the church is on brought by Jeffery Anderson of St. and international criminal authorities? the increase, such as African or parts Paul, MN and argued by For the first time, in the Ronan of Asia. Marci Hamilton of Philadelphia, PA, a case, Vatican officials may be While the Vatican and the Cardozo law school faculty member. required under oath to answer American bishops have desperately Defending the Vatican was attorney questions and deliver documents attempted to contain the cover up Jeff Lena of Berkeley, CA. about their direct involvement with scandal to the United States, or at The case is expected to be pedophile priests and their least Western countries, it is appealed by the Vatican to the U.S. supervisors. increasingly clear, as victims The number of now admitted clergy courageously begin to come forward child molesters who have assaulted in Mexico, American, Africa, and children over the past several Asia—from every corner of the decades in the United States is globe—that the need for reform, 2009 SNAP National Conference Have you registered for the SNAP national conference?

You do not want to miss Governor Frank Keating speaking about his experience as the first head of the bishop's .

You don’t want to miss Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune speaking about holding religious institutions accountable.

You do not want to miss a chance to meet with survivors and supporters from across the country.

You do not want to miss a chance to attend breakout sessions and attend a support group meeting.

You do not want to miss hearing experts from across the country discuss abuse, ways to heal and ways to prevent it from happening.

You do not want to miss a chance to spend a few days in our nation's capitol in a beautiful hotel at rock bottom prices.

The 2009 SNAP national conference will be held in Washington, DC this summer, the weekend of August 7-9. We will meet at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. The hotel is just across the river from the national mall, museums and many attractions. There are restaurants within walking distance and free shuttle service to/from DC National Airport.

We have locked in a spectacular room rate of $109 for either one or two people per room. Just mention you are reserving a room for the SNAP conference when registering at the hotel.

Don't live with regrets, register now while “Early Bird Discounts” are available.

Take advantage of our early-bird special! Up until May 1, 2009, a weekend pass is $115 and a one day pass is $100. Please make checks payable to SNAP.

2009 SNAP Conference Registration Mail to: SNAP, P.O. Box 6416, Chicago, IL 60680

Name______Street Address______City, state and zip code______Phone______Email address______Whole weekend $115______One day pass $100______