SURVIVORS NETWORK OF THOSE ABUSED BY PRIESTS March 2009 SNAP Newsletter From the Editor SNAP speaks out on the appointment of Archbishop Dear Friends, Timothy Dolan as archbishop of New York City When the first articles ran in early 2002 about the clergy 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 New York City 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 dioceses in the helping to give the hierarchy that shielded them would be in exile. Yet here we are seven United States, 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 Edward Egan 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 Pope’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 parish. public. registration form on page 6. from a Texas university and (The Phoenix diocese 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, Chicago, 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 Ireland. He was then and international boundaries, using have resulted in the widespread sent to Chicago, where he allegedly church funded and operated “retreat” sexual abuse 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.