OH- Victims applaud Cuyahoga prosecutors

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
April 16, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/oh_victims_applaud_cuyahoga_prosecutors

A Cleveland prosecutor is asking that a priest, Fr. James McGonegal, be denied entry into an alternate sentence program. We applaud this move. Citizens are safest when predators are locked up.

http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2014/04/cleveland_priest_should_not_re.html

It seems to us that Catholic officials – both those who commit and those who conceal sex crimes – often ask for and receive special treatment, favors or considerations from many secular officials. That diminishes the faith that many have in our justice system and discourages them from reporting more crimes. That, in turn, makes vulnerable adults and innocent children more apt to be sexually violated in the future.

We also oppose expunging this cleric's record once his sentence is over. People can protect themselves and their loved ones when they have more information, not less, about sex offenders.

Finally, we're skeptical of the claim by the priest's defense lawyer that “We’re working with the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office and we’re hoping to resolve it.” Lawyers defending child molesting clerics and complicit Catholic bishops almost always make this claim, and usually, it's deceptive. They often do the absolute bare minimum, just to avoid contempt of court or other formal charges. They rarely take real steps to help police and prosecutors investigate and convict abusive priests, nuns, seminarians, or bishops.