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Admitted RI Predator Priest Works in Ma around Kids; SNAP Responds Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests November 23, 2009 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2009_statements/112309_admitted_ri _predator_priest_works_in_ma_around_kids_snap_responds.htm Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747) Once again, a dangerous predator priest gets access to kids because current and former employers are irresponsible. The real culprits here are America's Catholic bishops, who for decades recruited, educated, ordained, hired, transferred and protected predator priests but who now are content to merely suspend them and warn almost no one about these pedophiles. More than 15 bishops (a small minority) have posted on their websites the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics. Sadly, bishops in Rhode Island and Massachusetts resist even this simple, inexpensive, proven method of alerting parents about and protecting kids from dangerous predators. We're especially disappointed in Bishop Tobin and Cardinal O'Malley, both of whom publicly posture on many issues, yet refuse to do the bare minimum to stop future abuse by current and former church employees who are known to have sexually assaulted innocent children. For at least 34 years, Catholic officials have known Fr. Roland M. Lepire was a credibly accused child molester. For 13 years, they've known he is an admitted child molester. But other than suspending him from his job (which church insurers and defense lawyers no doubt insisted on), they've done virtually nothing to safeguard those around Lepire. That's inexcusable, but sadly typical for America's bishops. There are thousands of admitted, proven and credibly accused pedophile priests like Lepire out there, getting little or no help or supervision or monitoring from or by the bishops who essentially helped them rape and sodomized kids by ignoring or hiding their crimes. And even today, by their continued silence and inaction, these bishops continue to help these pedophiles find and hurt and endanger children. (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We've been around for 21 years and have more than 9,000 members across the country. 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. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, 314-645-5915 home), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Peter Isely (414-429-7259), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688) |
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