Victims Sue 4 Priests, One for the First Time; SNAP Responds

SNAP
October 2, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mn_victims_sue_4_priests_one_for_the_first_time_snap_responds

Attorneys for child sex abuse victims have filed new clergy sex abuse and cover up lawsuits regarding four Minnesota priests, one of whom has never been publicly accused before. We applaud the brave victims who broke their silence and are working towards justice.

The new lawsuits name four alleged child molesting priests from the Twin Cities archdiocese and New Ulm; Fr. Ramon J. Buckley (who has never been publicly exposed by the church), Fr. William Marks, Fr. John McGrath, and Fr. Michael Skoblik.

Many assume virtually all of the Twin Cities predator priests have been 'outed.' Today's case against Fr. Buckley shows that this just isn't true. There could be a dozen or more child molesting clerics who are still 'under the radar.' Exposing them and protecting kids should not be the burden of their victims. Hundreds of Catholic church staff and members - current and former - should stop being cowards and start speaking up about these dangerous clerics.

We urge church officials to reach out to anyone who may have been hurt by any of these clerics. We hope anyone who saw, suspects, or suffered clergy sex crimes will gain courage from these brave survivors and report what they know to secular officials.