Gallup Diocese Sells Land for Victims’ Settlements; SNAP Responds

SNAP
May 26, 2015

http://www.snapnetwork.org/nm_gallup_diocese_sells_land_for_victims_settlements_snap_responds

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 glad that Gallup Catholic officials are moving toward resolving dozens of clergy sex abuse and cover up cases by selling mostly vacant property. This proves what we’ve long said: that Catholic officials have far more wealth than they admit and can do right by suffering victims if only they’ll put forth some effort.

[blogs.wsj.com]

We urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups by New Mexico Catholic officials to contact secular authorities – not church staff – and expose wrongdoers, protect kids, and start healing. We urge Catholics to keep prodding the church hierarchy to be more honest about church finances and to do more about children’s safety.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 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 Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, bblaine@snapnetwork.org)

Gallup Diocese Seeking to Sell Land to Pay Victims

By TOM CORRIGAN, May 26, 2015

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gallup, N.M., which stretches across 55,000 square miles of northern Arizona and New Mexico, is seeking to sell 55 parcels of mostly vacant desert land to help fund a settlement with about 60 alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse.

In court papers filed last week, the diocese asked U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge David Thuma for permission . . .

Read full article here