Victims Group Claims Catholic Clergy Abuser List Is Incomplete

By Elisa Hahn
KING5
January 28, 2016

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2016/01/28/victims-group-claims-catholic-clergy-abuser-list-incomplete/79490488/

[with video]

Two weeks ago the Seattle Catholic Archdiocese posted a list of 77 clergy members who are deemed by the church to be abusers of children. A victims group claims that predator list is incomplete.

"I'm a Catholic through and through," said Steve Snider, "but I can't go to church. I tried."

Snider still has his faith, but says he has lost his church. He was one of the handful of people standing outside of St James Thursday.

They are all members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, a support group for people who have been sexually abused in religious settings.

"When they're not being a 100 percent truthful and they're still trying to hide, it feels like we're being molested all over again," said Snider.

He refers to the list the Seattle Archdiocese released two weeks ago of the 77 clergy who have allegations of sexual abuse. The allegations have been either "admitted, established or determined to be credible."

"I have four brothers, three of them were molested by Jack Marsh," said Snider.

Snider spotted the Father John Marsh's name on the list right away, but his other abuser was not.

"I was molested at St Anthony's by an accountant at St Anthony's," he said. "His name wasn't on the list."

"If the archdiocese wants to be transparent, they want to put out a list it needs to be complete," said Ginny Adams.

Victims, like Adams' childhood friend for whom she stood there Thursday, often end up suffering long after the abuse ends. Snider has been in and out of hospitals over the years.

"I suffer from depression for years and years and years. I tried to commit suicide and hung myself," he said.

So they seek healing in truth and accountability. And with their perpetrators deceased or the statute of limitations long gone, they look to their church to give it to them.

In his letter, the archbishop acknowledged this was not a complete list and that more names may be added to it in the future.

The Seattle Archdiocese revised its policy on abuse allegations more than a decade ago and says this list is another step forward.