WASHINGTON
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, Nov. 19
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com , davidgclohessy@gmail.com )
Controversy continues to swirl around decisions by Seattle Catholic officials that victims and concerned parishioners consider deceitful, hurtful and reckless.
Today, the National Catholic Reporter writes about the recent cases of Fr. Harold Quigg and the defrocked and recently deceased Fr. David Jaeger.
Parishioners link the two cases, “viewing both as indicative of a lack of archdiocesan diligence in regard to priests found to be credibly accused of sexual abuse of children,” NCR reports.
Regarding Quigg: It’s not enough to say “oops, we let a credibly accused predator priest keep ministering.” Someone must be disciplined. Otherwise, nothing changes.
Regarding Jaegar: Honoring admitted predators also discourages other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers from reporting offenders and preventing crimes. This kind of selfish, callous church event is one reason clergy sex crimes and cover ups keep happening.
Here’s the bottom line: Clerics can make it harder or easier for people to disclose suspected child sex crimes. The two or three dozen clerics involved in these controversies are making it harder.
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