NORTH DAKOTA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Monday, April 18, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
The callous comment yesterday by Fargo Bishop John Folda shows that Catholic officials still puts their comfort and careers ahead of kids’ safety.
Folda says his diocese has “no connection with” Fr. Joseph Jeyapaul and would not comment on the convicted cleric, since it “involves a priest outside his diocese,” according to one newspaper.
If no murderer in the Fargo diocese is sentenced to death, will Folda “not comment” on capital punishment? If an abortion facility opens just across the river from Grand Forks, will Folda “not comment” because “his diocese has no connection” with it. If Pope Francis starts ordaining women or insisting that all masses be said in Latin, will Folda “not comment” because the pontiff is “a priest outside his diocese.”
Folda, like nearly all religious figures, often expresses opinions and takes action on matters outside the physical jurisdiction to which he’s tied. The question is not “What are the four boundaries of my diocese?” The question is “What’s the right thing to do?”
We don’t for sure but strongly believe that Fr. Jeyapaul was in North Dakota. And we believe it’s very likely a victim, witness or whistleblower who could help put Fr. Jeyapaul behind bars again is now in North Dakota.
First, Grand Forks is just an hour away from two of Fr. Jeyapaul’s parishes.
Second, it’s the biggest city near each town where Fr. Jeyapaul was assigned.
Third, when he was at meetings at the Crookston HQ, he was a 25 min. drive from Grand Forks.
Fourth, Fr. Jeyapaul very likely went to big, special church events in North Dakota (like a building dedication or ordination) and very likely substituted for an ill or vacationing North Dakota colleague
Fifth, many abuse victims move away from the town where they were abused and many young people move from rural areas to bigger cities.
Finally, let’s assume we’re wrong and that Fr. Jeyapaul never left Minnesota for a minute. Still North Dakota Catholic church officials and members have the ability – and we believe the duty – to spread the word about him, seek out others he hurt, and help protect the even-more-powerless kids in India from him by helping police and prosecutors here pursue him
“But I didn’t bring him here, hide him, or pay him,” Folda will likely claim.
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