CHICAGO (IL)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Thursday, Aug. 1
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com )
Credibly accused Catholic cleric works now in Pope’s home diocese
14 Credibly accused yet information remains secret
We’re here today because we just learned this week about Br. Richard Suttle’s presence in Argentina. We’re here today because the Claretians are putting kids in harm’s way. And we’re here to warn Chicago parents and the public about these dangerous and potentially dangerous child molesters.
There are fourteen accused predator priests from the religious community, the Claretian Missionaries, yet their identities are not posted on diocesan websites and their whereabouts remain largely unknown, leaving children at risk.
We beg every single person who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or cover ups by Claretians to call law enforcement. That’s the way we protect kids – by reporting crimes and potential crimes to the independent professionals in law enforcement, not to self-serving and biased church officials.
Now, let’s talk about spin and hair-splitting. Because that’s what we predict the Claretians will do. They’ll likely back away from or even discredit their own finding that the allegation against Suttle is “credible.” They’ll likely claim that “credible” only means “possible.” That’s baloney.
They can’t have it both ways. The church’s allegedly binding child sex abuse policy plainly says that no cleric with a credible allegation of abuse can be in a church job. The Claretians told other church officials Suttle was “credibly accused.” The determination was made after what church officials call “a thorough investigation into the charges” against Suttle.
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