Credibly Accused Priest Won’t Be Charged, SNAP Responds

SNAP
October 7, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mi_credibly_accused_priest_won_t_be_charged_snap_responds

A credibly accused Michigan priest will not be charged for his crimes due to archaic statute of limitation laws. We are disappointed by this and hope church officials will remove him to a remote and secure treatment facility.

Father James Menapace was reported to have sexually abused boys in the late 1990s in the Diocese of Marquette. He has been removed from ministry, but we hope more action is immediately taken to ensure he does not hurt another child.

Often times church officials do the bare minimum after allegations are found credible. But church officials train, ordain, hire, and transfer priests; they have an obligation to prevent them from hurting more children even after they are suspended.

Bishop John F. Doerfler should immediately move Fr. Menapace to a remote and secure treatment facility so that he cannot harm any more children. He should tell parishioners, police, prosecutors and the public where Fr. Menapace is now. He should disclose when the abuse report was made. (We fear it's taken weeks or months for Doerfler to act.) And he should disclose whether other accusations against Fr. Menapace have been made in the past.

We hope anyone who is suffering in silence and self blame will find the courage to speak up, help protect children, and start healing.