ECUADOR
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, Aug. 19
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
A priest who admits abusing a US boy now teaches in Ecuador. We beg Ecuadorian school, church and law enforcement officials to warn parents and the public about him and prosecute him if possible.
A new report says that Fr. Manuel Gallo Espinoza admits molesting a boy in New Jersey. When a victim spoke up, two Catholic officials urged him to fly home to Ecuador, Fr. Espinoza says. So he escaped home, later returned to the US (where he taught in two other states) but is back in Ecuador, still teaching.
In 2003, Fr. Espinoza fled to South America. From 2005-2008, he worked at Beville Middle School (703-878-2593) in Dale City/Woodbridge Virginia in the Arlington diocese. From 2008-Feb. 28, 2014, Fr. Espinoza taught at Parkdale High School (310-513-5700) in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
This is beyond tragic. It’s inexcusable. And it’s proof that little is changing in the Catholic hierarchy.
It’s heartbreaking that Catholic officials apparently told a suspected child molesting cleric to run from the law. It’s heartbreaking that church staff did little or nothing to help warn police, prosecutors, parents, parents and the public about him. And it’s heartbreaking that the priest has been around kids ever since, later returning to the US to teach and continuing to teach even now in Ecuador.
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