SNAP Challenges New Newark Catholic Official

SNAP
September 24, 2013

http://www.snapnetwork.org/nj_snap_challenges_new_newark_catholic_official

[BishopAccountability.org]

Many Catholic feel hopeful because of the new coadjutor archbishop of Newark. Their hopes will soon be dashed, however, unless he takes clear, strong steps very soon to better safeguard kids.

So we publicly beg Archbishop Bernard Hebda to insist that the archdiocese post names of predator priests on its website. This is the quickest, safest and cheapest way Catholic officials can safeguard children – to let parishioners and the public know who the proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics are.

And it’s the best way for Archbishop Hebda to prove that he’s not just “window dressing” for a dreadfully corrupt archdiocesan hierarchy.

Roughly 30 US bishops have done this, almost always when facing strong public pressure and criticism.

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None of those bishops has expressed regret about having posted these names. None, as best we can tell, has ever been sued for posting these names.

It would take virtually no expense and only a few hours to post this list. More names can always be added later.

But it would instantly warn perhaps thousands and thousands of unsuspecting neighbors, co-worker and even relatives about potentially dangerous clerics. It would surely prevent one child from being sexually assaulted by a priest, nun, seminarian or other Catholic employee.

It’s worth doing. It should have been done years or even decades ago. Archbishop Hebda can, and should, make sure it happens in Newark within days.

Otherwise, it will be clear that Archbishop Hebda's promotion changes nothing.

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com), Mark Crawford (732-632-7687, mecrawf@comcast.net)