SAINT PAUL (MN)
WCCO [Minneapolis MN]
June 12, 2024
By Taylor Rivera
Hebda says they have already begun the process of investigating the priests
Alleged clergy abuse victims blast Catholic archbishop Bernard Hebda on Wednesday outside the St. Paul Cathedral.
This after members of The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests claimed that the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul have not acknowledged the names of five Minnesota priests who they say committed sex crimes against minors.
SNAP support group leader Frank Meuers says the church owes it to the survivors of these five men to hold them accountable.
“I can speak for myself as an abuse victim,” says Meuers. “The abuse is over. The physical abuse is over. But the hurt, the pain, is never over.”
Meuers says this is just the first of many future efforts the group will pursue to push top church officials to be ‘more open and honest’ about outing predators.
SNAP director David Clohessy says holding dead priests accountable is just as important to survivors.
“I mean, childhood sexual abuse is horrific always and it’s always hard to recover from, but especially if no one acknowledges,” says Clohessy. “Like Denise said, if no one acknowledges your pain, that’s much, much, much tougher.”
In a statement, Archbishop Bernard Hebda says they have already begun the process of investigating the priests named by SNAP, and, if appropriate, will add their names to the clergy disclosure list.
Hebda adds he is grateful for the group’s collaboration to create and maintain safe environments in their churches and schools.