BishopAccountability.org
	Group Praises 3 Boston-area Victims of Newly-outed Priest SNAP December 10, 2010 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2010_statements/120910_group_praises_3_boston_area_victims_of_newly_outed_priest.htm Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com) We are deeply grateful to the brave men who report having been molested by Fr. Czeslaw Szymanski. It takes real courage to disclose and discuss horrific childhood trauma, especially at the hands of a trusted cleric. We hope their taking action will bring them some measure of healing and closure. We also hope their courage will inspire others who saw, suspected or suffered Fr. Chet’s crimes to come forward, get help, expose wrongdoing and start healing. When victims, witnesses and whistleblowers come forward, there’s a least a chance for healing, justice and prevention. But when victims, witnesses and whistleblowers stay silent, predators walk free, kids get hurt and victims suffer in silence. (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 22 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com) http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20101209victims_claim_80s_abuse_by_late_mass_priest/ Victims claim ’80s abuse by late Mass. priest By Associated Press Thursday, December 9, 2010 BRAINTREE — Three former altar boys have accused a now-deceased Lowell priest of repeatedly sexually abusing them in the 1980s just before they’d perform their duties at Mass. The alleged victims say they were between ages 6 and 10 when the Rev. Czeslaw Szymanski fondled them in a room where priests and altar boys don robes. The abuse allegedly happened between 1982 and 1987 when Szymanski worked at Holy Trinity Parish. Szymanski, ordained in Poland by the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit, died in a 1987 car accident. The alleged victims’ attorney, Carmen Durso, said his clients believe there could be up to 20 other victims. In a statement, the Boston Archdiocese said Thursday it appreciates the "courage" of those who came forward and will work to resolve their claims.
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