Manitowoc Cleric, Subject of Sex Abuse Settlements, Officially Removed from Byzantine Catholic Priesthood

SNAP Wisconsin
July 27, 2013

http://03409bc.netsolhost.com/snapwisconsin/2013/07/27/manitowoc-cleric-subject-of-sex-abuse-settlements-officially-removed-from-byzantine-catholic-priesthood/

The February 2012 edition of the St. James Episcopal newsletter “The Spirit” shows Glenn Davidowich working with children at the parish. A sixteen year old contributor to the newsletter comments that she enjoys time spent with her “newest caregiver/teacher Glenn Davidowich”. Included are photos of Davidowich with especially vulnerable children.

SNAPwisconsin.com

UPDATE: Manitowoc cleric, subject of sex abuse settlements, officially removed from Byzantine Catholic priesthood

Fr. Davidowich worked in churches in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, and Florida

Statement by John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin Director

CONTACT: 414.336.8575

Fr. Glenn Davidowich was officially removed from the Byzantine Catholic priesthood for multiple reports of child sexual assault. Davidowich’s laicization was approved in December by Pope Benedict XVI and he was defrocked in April.

Church officials with the Eparchy of Passaic, who supervised the cleric, have reached settlements with multiple victims of Davidowich. An attorney representing one of the victim/survivors described Davidowich as a “serial pedophile” who was “open and notorious with his activities involving children”.

Davidowich’s case demonstrates yet again that sex offenders can move almost undetected across state lines and resettle into unsuspecting communities. Davidowich worked in parishes in five states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, and Florida. He now resides in Manitowoc Wisconsin.

If not for the brave survivors who brought a civil case this potentially dangerous cleric would likely still be in ministry. We urge any victims of Davidowich or anyone with information about his reported abuse of children to contact law enforcement officials immediately.

Urgent child protection legislation is needed across the country and in the state of Wisconsin. The Child Victim’s Act has been re-introduced in Wisconsin, legislation which would identify serial child predators in our midst. We urge citizens to contact their representative and ask them to support this bill.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Visit us at SNAPnetwork.org and SNAPwisconsin.com.