Oh - Predator Priest Found Guilty; SNAP Responds

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
September 20, 2013

http://www.snapnetwork.org/oh_predator_priest_found_guilty_snap_responds

We are grateful that Fr. Robert Poandl has been found guilty to sexually abusing a 10 year old boy. However, we are worried that he may receive such a light sentence.

We are especially grateful to this brave victim and his family. Their courage to speak up, their wisdom to seek justice and their patience to endure delays has been heroic. Because of their compassion and determination, this dangerous predator will always be publicly known as a child molester.

We hope Fr. Poandl will be spending a long time behind bars away from innocent children. 

It’s crucial that the justice system has accurate information about Fr. Poandl and his crimes so that he can be appropriately sentenced. So it’s important that every single person who saw, suspected or suffered his crimes now come forward to prosecutors.

Church officials transferred Fr. Poandl roughly 30 times in 44 years (sometimes to the same location twice). He could well have victims spread far across the US. So we urge the bishops in every diocese where Fr. Poandl worked to aggressively reach out to others who may have been assaulted and may still be suffering in shame, silence and self-blame. This includes the dioceses of New Orleans LA, Atlanta GA, Tulsa OK, Savannah GA, Jackson, MS, and Harrisburg PA. So should Fr. Poandl’s supervisors and colleagues at the Glenmary Home Missionaries.

We have a simple message to every current and former Catholic church employee and member: It’s never too late to share what you know or suspect with law enforcement officials. It’s up to us to pass on information. And it’s up to police and prosecutors to determine what will help them further prosecute or imprison a criminal.

Fr. Poandl belongs to a Fairfield Ohio-based Catholic religious order called the Glenmary Missioners. Besides Ohio, he worked at churches and church assignments in TX, PA, OK, KY, LA, MS and GA.

His photos and detailed work history are here:

http://www.bishopaccountability.org/assign/Poandl_Robert_F_ghm.htm