Diocese Responds to Charges Filed against Former Youth Volunteer

KMBC
June 11, 2015

http://www.kmbc.com/news/diocese-responds-to-charges-filed-against-former-youth-volunteer/33516560

[with video]

Announcing sexual exploitation charges against a former youth volunteer at a Catholic parish in Kansas City, Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd made a point of saying how cooperative the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese has been in the investigation.

Anthony R. Snyder is accused of encouraging boys to look at pornographic materials on cellphones and computers that he provided or altered in a way that they could receive them.

Snyder who has been a youth athletics coach, also worked as a youth ministry volunteer at St. Therese Parish from 2006-2008. Last spring, Snyder had been a confirmation sponsor for a teenager at Holy Family Parish. He had previously been a sponsor for another student at St. Therese.

Prosecutors said he met at least two of his victims at church.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann sent a letter to parishioners at St. Therese and the Holy Family parishes. He said the pastor at the church was first informed of suspicious behavior involving Snyder last month.

That pastor called the diocese on May 13 and spoke with ombudsman Jenifer Valenti.

“It’s tough for everybody,” Valenti said.

She said the diocese and the pastor called police and the child abuse hotline.

“There’s always going to be predators at work, so the important thing is for the church to do everything it can to catch that as quickly as possible and alert authorities so that justice is served,” she said.

The investigation revealed Snyder met a 13-year-old victim and a 15-year-old victim at the church.

When Snyder volunteered with youth ministry, he went through a three-hour sexual abuse prevention program that was required by the church for anyone who worked with children. The program, called Virtus, helps volunteers identify signs of child sexual abuse and the methods and means offenders use.

The latest incident is a blow for the diocese that was home for former priest Shawn Ratigan, now serving a 50-year federal prison sentence for possession and distribution of child pornography.

Valenti’s job was created in the wake of the Ratigan scandal.

“Often times, people who are sexually attracted to children seek out opportunities at churches, at schools, in athletics, to find victims,” she said.

Prosecutors said they believe Snyder is one of those people, luring victims to watch pornography and perform sexual acts.

“The pastors at both parishes are very aware that this is going to be a difficult process,” Valenti said.