David Clohessy of St. Louis, National Director of SNAP

We feel deep sorrow for Voelker’s victims yet hopeful that the truth will someday surface and that others assaulted by him will overcome their fears (More)

DA says priest did not assault woman

Police investigated Father Nicholas Voelker after a woman claimed he sexually assaulted her. Peggy Warren came forward with the claim last week. She said she wanted to help other woman who had been abused.(More)

Former Q-C priest missing in St. Louis

The Catholic Diocese of Davenport has lost contact with a former Quad-City area priest accused of sexually abusing children.(More)

Ohio Catholics:

By your silence and your donations, you are unwittingly helping child molesters.
We are men and women who were sexually abused by Catholic priests, brothers, nuns, (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Wants Catholic Bishops To Testify

For months, all six Ohio Catholic bishops have quietly but vigorously fought efforts to reform the state’s child sex abuse laws.(More)

Sexual abuse cases against adults hinge on accuser's testimony

In Kevin Madden's recent editorial, he poses the question "Is a priest guilty until proven innocent?" He then raises many questions that provide an opportunity for me to educate him and the public on (More)

Statement by Bob Swart, St. Louis SNAP Co-director

Kids will be far more protected with Malsch in a real prison, instead of in a Catholic retreat for child molesters.
We hope this sentence will lead Missouri political and Catholic officials (More)

Steubenville diocese notified about sexual abuse.

Mrs. Anna Marie Hanes Martinez will be testifying before the Ohio State Legislature, House Judiciary Committee, (More)

"Three Sad Words"

The lesson we can learn today is summed up in three sad words: Basically nothing's changed.(More)

Abusive Kansas Priest Quietly Worked Here Until Four Months Ago

Clergy sex abuse victims will hand out leaflets door-to-door warning residents that for seven months this year an abusive priest from Kansas lived and worked at the local Catholic church. Parishioners both here and in (More)

Abusive Priest Still Works In Wichita Parish Despite Assaulting Parishioner Last Year

In the summer of 2004, Fr. Nicholas Voelker of the Wichita diocese twice sexually assaulted a parishioner, Peggy Warren, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Wichita, KS.(More)

Update on events in Ohio!

November 22nd was an overwhelming success! And that success would never have been possible without the sheer number of survivors and supporters who turned out and endured those uncomfortable wooden chairs for hours. Many thanks to each of you (and thanks hardly seems sufficient).(More)

To Missouri Attorney General Nixon:

Dear Attorney General Nixon:
We're not lawyers, but the Missouri statues seem pretty clear to us: within ten days of their conviction, sex offenders in Missouri must register with the state and disclose where they're living.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims Place Hard-Hitting Ads Prodding Catholics To Speak Up

On November 16, Fr. Thomas Graham was sentenced to 20 years in prison for molesting a boy at the Old Cathedral downtown in the 1970s.

center. (More)

Female Priest Abuse Survivors Speak Out against Gay Priest Ban

“The Vatican’s decision to ban gay men from the priesthood is an insult to survivors of either gender,” says, Ann Hagan Webb. “The vast number of girls and women abused by priests underscores the obvious,(More)

Nine New Sex Abuse Lawsuits To Be Filed Against 5 Priests and 1 Nun
Those being accused of sexually abusing children include: Father Walter A. Breuning, Father Norman Goodman, Father Toussain J. Perron, Father Edward Bush and Sister Mary Jane. (More)

House told, Abuse knows no time limit

It started with a kiss for his birthday. It progressed into almost nightly phone calls and daily rides to various locations, when she was always the first one picked up and the last dropped off.(More)

Speed won't bring justice
Everyone involved -- Catholics, victims, the public -- gets weary of the demoralizing Catholic scandal involving thousands of abusive priests and hundreds of complicit bishops. But it's shortsighted and hurtful to (More)

Dear Mr. McCullouch:
We are writing to formally request an investigation into whether or not Fr. Thomas Graham, who was convicted of forcible sodomy three months ago, violated state law by living at a church retirement center near the Berry Patch Child Care Center. (More)

Three Prosecutors Back Controversial Child Sex Abuse "Window"

In a highly unusual move, three top Ohio prosecutors are endorsing a controversial child sexual abuse prevention bill.(More)

Priest sentenced to 20 years for abuse

The Rev. Thomas Graham was sentenced to 20 years in prison this morning for sodomizing a young boy in the rectory of the Old Cathedral in St. Louis in the late 1970s. But Graham is not likely to spend any time behind bars soon..(More)
- POST-DISPATCH -

The most secretive November (Bishops Conference) since 1972.

Welcome to what veteran journalist Richard Ostling calls "the most secretive November (Bishops Conference) since 1972." We are of course (More)

Families of Men Murdered by Priest, Present Plan To US Bishops

In an unusual "John Doe" hearing last month, a St. Croix Circuit judge ruled that Fr. Ryan Erickson shot and killed two men (More)

Sex Abuse Group and Catholics To Hold "Speak Out"

In March, the Ohio Senate held hearings and unanimously passed Senate Bill 17, which makes it easier for victims to expose and take legal action against the adults who sexually assault them. (More)

Letter to Archbishop Buechlein:
We are members of a support group called the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Our purpose is to help heal the wounded and protect the vulnerable. We are writing in the hopes that you will take three prompt, simple, but important steps (More)

Sex Abuse Victims and Concerned Catholics To Hold “Speak Out”

In March, the Ohio Senate held hearings and unanimously passed Senate Bill 17, which makes it easier for victims to expose and take legal action against the adults who sexually assault them. (More)

Victims are concerned after former priest files for bankruptcy

A defrocked priest who agreed to make payments to four victims of sexual abuse has filed for bankruptcy, making it more difficult for those men to collect from him.(More)

Cleric Admits Being “Unable to Control Himself” & Abusing Countless Youth in Several States

As a ten year old, Judy DeLonga was repeatedly molested in the 1960s and 1970s by Fr. Bruce MacArthur, first in a hospital, then at a Beaver Dam Wisconsin parish, and later on trips. After years of dealing with.(More)

Family of Murder Victim To Speak Out

A Wisconsin judge recently determined that Fr. Ryan Erikson shot and killed two men, including Dan O’Connell, a Hudson undertaker. Erikson also took his own life..(More)

Sex Abuse Victims Blast Pueblo Prosecutor

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is criticizing Pueblo’s District Attorney for apparently abruptly ending his brief investigation into sexual abuse allegations against a former Catholic cleric, William Mueller, who faces civil molestation lawsuits(More)

Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP Founder

A month ago, we stood here asking for the Archbishop’s help. We want to find and help anyone who was molested by Fr. Harry Monroe.
The archbishop has chosen NOT to help. He’s chosen to not respond to us. He’s chosen silence over speaking up, passivity over outreach, timidity over courage, cold-heartedness over compassion.(More)

Two New Child Sex Abuse Lawsuits Announced Against Priest

Initially, in early September, a 40-year-old man living out of state filed an abuse suit against Fr. Harry Monroe, reporting that the priest had sexually violated him in 1976 while he was a student at St. Andrew Catholic Church's school in Indianapolis.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims Want Cardinal To Back Legislative Reform

SNAP wants Rigali to publicly discipline Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Cistone (215 587 4507). According to the Inquirer, the grand jury found (More)

Center destroyed priest sex case records

What might have been a rich lode of information on the background of abusive Catholic priests and religious brothers has been destroyed by a center in New Mexico where some of them had been sent for treatment.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims Prod Superior Catholic Officials For Answers, Action

Superior Bishop Raphael Fliss has been under fire for mishandling abuse allegations against the now-deceased Fr. Ryan Erickson.(More)

Statement by Mary Grant of Long Beach

Once again, we see huge gaps between what Cardinal Mahony claims and what his own documents prove.

.(More)

Former Arnold priest named in Philly grand jury report

A former pastor at St. David's Catholic Church in Arnold is named in a Philadelphia grand jury report that blasts the Philadelphia Archdiocese for
covering up accusations of sexual abuse by priests, including the Rev. Joseph R. Monahan.(More)

Letter to Kirkwood Mayor

We are writing to you today because of our concern that a tragic pattern is about to repeat itself.
In an article published October 7, 2005 issue of the St. Louis Review, the archdiocese announces that it is working with St. Agnes Home in Kirkwood to add almost a dozen rooms for retired priests. While on the surface this seems very innocuous,(More)

We fear that children may have been sexually molested at your church.

Father Joseph Monahan worked in many Saint Louis parishes, including this one.
Monahan was named as a child molester in a recent Philadelphia grand jury report (see Post Dispatch 9/22/05).
Church officials claim Monahan came (More)

Clergy Sex Abuse Victims Wants Bishop To "Come Clean" About Erikson

Leaders of SNAP believe that Superior Bishop Raphael Fliss knows more about the alleged abuse, especially since their first reports of Erikson’s sexual problems in 1994.(More)

Clergy Sex Abuse Victims Wants Boys Town To "Reach Out"

Leaders of SNAP believe that Archbishop Eldon Curtiss, along with Boys Town officials, should follow Jesus’ admonition to reach out and help “lost sheep,” anyone who has been hurt by priests, nuns, brothers, seminarians, bishops, teachers or lay employees, of either the archdiocese and of Boys Town(More)

Unusual Settlement Announced In Clergy Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Under the settlement terms, St. Paul-Minneapolis Catholic officials must apologize to the victim and use material provided by SNAP in training church staff and volunteers about sexual abuse. (Archdiocesan authorities have long taken a hostile approach toward SNAP (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Try To Track Down Predator

In 1970, as a confused and frightened a 14 year old girl, Doe was pregnant and intended to give her unborn baby up for adoption. She went to a now closed archdiocesan-affiliated clinic where a priest “counseled” her, pulled her pants and underwear down, and then penetrated her vagina with his fingers.
A nurse walked into the room, and interrupted the abuse. (More)

Setback for public safety, a victory for child molesters.

This is a setback for public safety, a victory for child molesters, a relief for duplicitous bishops, and yet another heartbreak for those want to warn families about dangerous predators and who have been and are deeply wounded because of abusive clergy and complicit church officials.(More)

Letter to Mr. Zappalla

Dear Mr. Zappalla:
The evidence is in, and it's damning: According to a three year investigation by an impartial grand jury, Philadelphia's Catholic officials, including (More)

Statement by David Clohessy
We're grateful for this small step and hope it encourages others who were wounded by Hoppe to come forward (More)

Sex Abuse Group Announce New Child Molestation Lawsuit Against Priest

In 1977, Father Harry Monroe repeatedly sexually assaulted a boy at St. Catherine’s parish (now closed) in Indianapolis. That victim, now a grown Indiana man filing as “John Doe,” is pursuing this new civil child molestation lawsuit against Monroe and the Indianapolis Catholic archdiocese.(More)

Statement by Fr. Moore's victim (9/21/05)
In addition to sexually abusing me, Fr. Moore also exposed himself to me and showed me pornography. At one point, I fought Moore off and reported him to church staff. But church officials broke their promise to me, in 1977, to kick him out of ministry.(More)

Letter delivered today to the Provincial for the Marianists in the Midwest.

Dear Archbishop Burke:
Attached is a letter we hand delivered today to the Provincial for the Marianists in the Midwest.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims Want Chapel Re-Named

In 2000, local Boy Scout officials honored Fr. Sylvester Hoppe by naming a new chapel at Camp Geiger in near St. Joseph after him. Before his death in 2002, Hoppe was involved in Scouting for 75 years. (More)

More molestation cases foreseen, say lawyers

Lawyers for two men who are suing the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo and the Marianist religious order said Thursday that more suits are expected to be filed accusing a former Roncalli High School teacher of rendering students unconscious with ether and molesting them.(More)

PROBLEM PRIESTS: As time goes by

THE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT faces difficult questions about when, if ever, to shut the courthouse door on decades-old allegations of sexual abuse by priests.

Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court heard Michael Powel's (More)

Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against New Cleric

In Pueblo (Colorado) County District Court this morning, two men, filing as "john does," accuse Brother William Mueller of molesting them while they were teenaged students at Roncalli High School in Pueblo in the late (More)

Prolog at the showing of"Twist of Faith"

Good evening. I am Steve Kymes. On behalf of my colleagues on the Voice of the Faithful Working Group for Support of Survivors of abuse, the leadership group of Voice of the Faithful, and our friends with SNAP, (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Criticizes Archbishop & Prestigious School

On Thursday, lawyers for the St. Louis archdiocesan officials and Chaminade Prep will argue before the state Supreme Court that they should not be held accountable for sex crimes committed by their employees. (More)

Ex-Priest Hit With Another Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Gary Wolf of Westmister was abused from approximately 1961 to 1963 at St. Catherine’s parish by Fr. Harold Robert White. During that time(More)

New Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Priest Who Worked Here

A former Catholic priest who once worked in Dodge City but now lives in St. Louis was accused again of child molestation in a civil lawsuit filed late last week.
On Friday, August 26, Fr. Donald ("Duck") Straub (More)

Sex Abuse Victim Appeals To Iowa Supreme Court

A New York man who alleges he was sexually molested by an Iowa priest is asking the Iowa State Supreme Court to allow his civil molestation lawsuit against the cleric to proceed. (More)

Vincentian Priest Sexually Abused Boy in Hong Kong, New Suit Says

A Kansas City area Catholic priest who allegedly molested a boy for two years in Hong Kong was sued in St. Louis on Friday.
The cleric, who apparently has never been publicly accused before, belongs to and is supervised by a large, St. Louis-based religious order called the Vincentians.
Father Thomas Cawley (More)

Another KC Area Catholic Priest Sued by Two For Molesting Them

The civil lawsuits, filed in late Friday, accuse Father Sylvester Hoppe of repeatedly molesting

a St. Joseph boy from age six to age 18, and

a Savannah boy when he was roughly 11. (More)

Rare Priest Sexual Abuse Trial Begins

A St. Louis archdiocesan Catholic priest who allegedly molested a local boy is going to court today and facing criminal sodomy charges.
In 2002, Father Thomas Graham was arrested for repeatedly molested a 13 year old boy(More)

Notorious Serial Pedophile Priest Sued Again

A former Catholic priest who was recently defrocked and released from prison was accused again of child molestation in a civil lawsuit filed late Friday.
James Beine (aka Mar James) (More)

SNAP statement on Spokane bankruptcy ruling

We applaud this decision and hope it speeds the day when hundreds of deeply wounded and still hurting abuse victims get some relief and healing.(More)

"Thanks, but No Thanks"

Cardinal Roger Mahony set up a chapel for us. Others pen apologies for the past. Some meet face-to-face with victims. A few others hold "healing masses" for us (often, however, neglecting to invite us). Others are talking about erecting statues or monuments in memory of what was done to us.(More)

Sexually Abusive KC Catholic Monsingnor Sued for the 19th Time.

When he was between 12 and 13 years old (in 1979-80), helping out at the St. Elizabeth's Church rectory in Kansas City, Craig Wilkerson reports that he was repeatedly given wine, marijuana, pornography and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Monsignor Thomas O'Brien.(More)

Retired Catholic Bishop Faces New Sex Abuse Lawsuit

Church officials admit they received at least "two complaints of sexual misconduct against Hart in the 1990s for alleged incidents in the early 1970s," according to the Kansas City Star. Oddly, Catholic leaders claim both are false Hart now faces five civil molestation lawsuits(More)

Two new Men Will File Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Ex-Priest

One of the victims is a 49 year old John Doe who was abused in Sterling and Loveland. The other, Brandon Trask, 49, was abused in Eagle County in the 1970s. Both were victimized by Father Harold Robert White (More)

Man sues archdiocese, claims sex abuse in '60s

A Virginia man sued the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis Friday, claiming a priest sexually abused him in 1962 and 1963 under the guise of talking to him about joining the priesthood. The suit says Rev. Norman H. Christian (More)

Priest Gave Boy Sexually Transmitted Disease

From 1974 to 1979, Father James Thiel, a Redemptorist priest, repeatedly abused a boy at St. Alphonsus "Rock" Church at Grand & Cook in midtown St. Louis
SNAP knows of four other boys who were victimized by Theil. (More)

Letter to Archbishop Favalora

August 12, 2005
Dear Archbishop Favalora,
We are clergy molestation victims who belong to SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a support group. We appeal to you today to go beyond the bare minimum steps of resolving civil litigation. We urge you to be a true pastor (More)

Lawsuit accuses priest of abuse

A man sued the St. Louis Archdiocese Monday, alleging he was sexually abused by a priest as a teenager in All Saints Parish in St. Peters.

The suit, filed in St. Louis Circuit Court by "Matt Doe," said a priest named Kertz fondled the boy in 1981. (More)

Festus man, Archdiocese named in molestation lawsuit

Last week John (who is using another name to protect his privacy) filedsuit against one of the men whom he alleges committed the abuse, former Festus Boy Scout Troop Leader Robert Oberle, 70. The suit also names the Archdiocese of St. Louis as a defendant.

(More)

Judge refuses to toss sodomy charge against priest

Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - Three years after being charged with sodomizing a teenage boy in the late 1970s, a St. Louis Catholic priest may be heading to court.

Circuit Judge Donald McCullin on Wednesday refused to dismiss the felony count of forcible sodomy against the Rev. Thomas Graham. (More)

New Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Cub Scout Leader And Priest

In the early 1970s, while he was an 12 or 13 year old parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Crystal City, a boy was sexually abused by Robert E. Oberle and Father Norman Christian. Both adults often “skinny-dipped” with boys on Oberle's property on Pattin Creek in Jefferson County. At separate times, both adults put their mouths on the boy's penis.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims Disclose New Lawsuit Against Priest & Diocese

In 1980, Father Thomas Reardon sexually assaulted a then 16 year old boy in the rectory of St. Gabriel's Church in east Kansas City.

(More)

Diocese urged to release records

Bishop says church will continue to fight court order

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests are encouraging Belleville Diocese parishioners to make their leaders surrender medical records of a priest accused of sexually abusing children.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims to Leaflet Belleville Cathedra

On April 7 of last year, the New York Times reported that then Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory was fined $2,000 and found in contempt of court for refusing to turn over documents regarding a suspended priest, Fr. Raymond Kownacki.(More)

Court Again Orders Belleville Diocese To Comply

For the second time, the Belleville Catholic Diocese has been ordered to turn over records about a suspended priest who has been accused of molesting several teens. (More)

6/27/05 Letter to Archbishop Burke;

Dear Archbishop Burke,
We have written you many times in the past year, encouraging you to protect innocent children and vulnerable (More)

Another lawsuit claims abuse by Beine

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A former St. Louis priest recently released from prison after sexual misconduct convictions were overturned now faces another sexual abuse lawsuit.

Tony Pettus of south St. Louis claims in the lawsuit filed Monday that James Beine forced Pettus to touch his  (More)

Letter to Bishop Charron:

We write you today hoping you'll come down on the side of openness over secrecy, and the protection of the vulnerable, rather than the protection of the institution.

Specifically, we urge you today to show genuine leadership, (More)

SNAP's Statement on motion to delay Graham Case

"We ache for Graham's brave and patient victim, who for years has sought healing and closure but will now have to endure yet another needless delay. (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Urge Bishops To Keep National Policy

After just three years, an already weak and vague set of national abuse guidelines will be furthered watered down, as bishops this week will likely vote to (More)

Archbishop Burke's Apology Letter to  Survivor Tim Fischer (More)

SNAP National Director's Statement At New York Legislator's News Conference:

This important legislation is long overdue. We applaud Assemblywoman Markey for introducing this measure that will protect kids. (More)

Three more accuse the Rev. Norman Christian of sexual abuse

Three former Sacred Heart altar boys have filed lawsuits against the late Rev. Norman Christian, accusing him of sexually abusing them in the late 1960s and early 1970s when Christian was a priest at Sacred Heart in Crystal City.

All three lawsuits were filed in St. Louis City circuit court against the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop Raymond Burke and Festus property owner Robert Oberle.  (More)  Click here for Photos of Fr. Christian and Bob Oberle

Sex Abuse Victims March To Hotel

Dozens and dozens of men and women who were molested by clergy have committed suicide. Members of SNAP offer support and consolation to their families, and will honor their memories in a brief service.
This week, some 300 Catholic bishops from across America will hold their bi-annual meeting at the Fairmont.
The march and vigil caps SNAP’s weekend-long annual national conference. (More)

Sex Abuse Victim Sues Nun Who Molested Her

Sr. Benen Kent, who belonged to a religious order called the Franciscan Sisters, repeatedly sexually abused at least three girls during the 1960s. The victim in this case was abused by the nun at St. Juliana’s school in Chicago (More)

NEW YORK PRIEST SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR CHILD RAPE

May 20, 2004
Middlesex Superior Court Judge Raymond Brassard sentenced a New York priest to life in prison in connection with the rape and sexual assault of a Billerica boy.(More)

Nixon Asks Supreme Court to Reconsider Beine Ruling
Attorney General Jay Nixon has formally asked the State Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to overturn the conviction of former Catholic priest and former St. Louis elementary school counselor James Beine on charges he exposed himself (More)

Attorney General wants rehearing on James Beine case

http://www.kmox.com/news/article.php?id=16264
May 4, 2005
Jay Nixon to file request to Missouri Supreme Court
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says he will request a re-hearing of the James Beine case before the state Supreme Court. The high court overturned an earlier conviction against Beine, who'd been accused of exposing himself to three boys in a school restroom. The justices said Missouri's law, on sexual misconduct, is too broad and could wrongly accuse people who are simply going to the bathroom in a public place. Nixon thinks the law is clear and says its never been used to wrongly accuse anyone.

Missouri Supreme Court decision

Beine's been accused of having child porn and committing sex crimes against public school kids and Catholic parishioners. It's now up to school and Catholic officials to aggressively reach out to others who Beine hurt and urge them to file criminal charges. That may be only way to keep children safe from him.
In December, the Missouri Supreme ruled that criminals who sexually abused kids prior to 1970 can be held accountable for their offenses. (More)

Milwaukee

Fr. Joseph Engels of the Peoria Diocese pleaded guilty on Friday, April 17,  to sexually assaulting an altar boy in two different Milwaukee hotels (More)

Two sue archdiocese, allege sexual abuse

Two men filed suit against the St. Louis archdiocese, Archbishop Raymond Burke and a Festus property owner Wednesday, claiming they ignored sexual abuse that occurred more than 30 years ago and failed to protect young boys from a predatory priest. (More)

Letter to Cardinal Mahony

Dear Cardinal Mahony:

Many times we've stood outside your cathedral, publicly urging you to help heal the hundreds of wounded men and women who are suffering because of abusive clergy of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Ask Cardinal Law To Step Aside

As you know, Vatican officials have chosen, and Cardinals have apparently approved, ousted U.S. Cardinal Bernard Law to lead a special mass this evening, Monday, April
11th, in Rome to mourn the Pope's death.(More)

Statement Regarding Death of Pope John Paul II

Many of our members are saddened by the death of Pope John Paul II,  (More)

Abusive priests often end up in St. Louis

The Rev. James McGreal of Seattle has admitted to sexually abusing hundreds of children between the 1960s and 1980s. The Seattle archdiocese has so far agreed to pay almost $10 million to 26 of those victims  (More)

Sins of the Fathers
The Springfield diocese tries to restore faith and trust

In the past 20 years, three watershed events in the Springfield Roman Catholic Diocese have shaken, and in some cases destroyed, the image of the priest and the faith of Catholics.

The Rev. Alvin Campbell was first. Campbell used his priesthood at St. Maurice Parish in Morrisonville as a tool to seduce boys. He was convicted as a pedophile in the days when using the words "pedophile" and "priest" in the same sentence was unthinkable. In 1985, Campbell pleaded guilty (More)

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/apr02/32466.asp
Bishop regrets handling of case

In letter, Fliss says he should have dealt with priest sooner

Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of Superior apologized Wednesday to Catholics in his northern Wisconsin diocese, asking their forgiveness for failing to thoroughly investigate a priest who was moved from parish to parish after being accused of sexually abusing boys in the 1980s. (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Ask Police & Archbishop To Issue Warning

Dear Colonel Lee;

We write to you today because of our concern that children within your jurisdiction are needlessly being placed at risk because the Archdiocese of Saint Louis has chosen to house known pedophiles in a retirement home.  The home, Regina Cleri, was designed as a retirement facility for priests in their declining years, it was built with their comfort and safety in mind.  It was not built to house dangerous sexual predators.(More)

Parents Warned About Two Molesters
In 24 hours, SNAP exposes and warns families about two known abusive priests. One was still in active ministry!

Story 1 The Archdiocese of Chicago reportedly knew about the allegations of abuse against Father Michael Yakaitis

Story 2 The Jefferson City Diocese said the Rev. John Degnan had been accused in 2001

Advocacy group criticizes diocese; Lawsuit defense prompts complaint

The Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has mounted an expensive and "mean-spirited" legal defense (More)

More Sex Abuse Victims End Lawsuits Against Archdiocese

Eight more individuals who were sexually abused by six local Catholic clerics have settled their civil molestation lawsuits against the St. Louis archdiocese. The portion paid by the archdiocese totals $267,500(More)

17 report abuse by former priest

By CASSIE FUERST

February 13, 200

Survivors’ group says more than 200 people in Missouri have reported sexual abuse by clergy.(More)

SNAP Urges Gaydos to Publicly Name Accused Priest

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is criticizing Jeff City’s Catholic bishop and asking him to publicly name a priest who has been accused of molesting children. (More)

Sexual abuse victim gets letter of apology from Burke

By Tim Townsend
Of the Post-Dispatch
02/22/2005
What Tim Fischer wanted more than anything else was an apology.

He wanted someone to say "I'm sorry" for the fact that when he was 11 years old he was raped by the late Rev. Norman Christian, a Roman Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis who was removed from ministry in 1995.

So, in his settlement with the archdiocese, Fischer, now 43 and an electrician from Crystal City, asked for an apology, in writing, (More)

Archbishop Fails to Send Letter
The sister of an accused child molester is calling on St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke to make a formal apology for the abuse.(More)

Sex Abuse Victims To Burke: Defrocking Is Not Enough

Statement by Barbara Dorris

It's important to remember that each of these dangerous men still walk free and pose a danger to kids.

A change in location or job title doesn't cure a child molester. (More)

St. Louis archbishop: Three priests defrocked for sexual abuse

JIM SUHR

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - Three priests accused of sexual abuse years ago have been defrocked, including one blamed in the alleged suicide of an ex-Marine he was said to have molested in youth, St. Louis' archbishop announced Friday "with deepest regrets to all who have been harmed." (More)

Sex Abuse Victims Seek Moratorium on “Importing Predators”

On the one year anniversary of his taking the reins of the St. Louis Catholic Archdiocese, sex abuse victims are asking Archbishop Raymond Burke to impose a one year moratorium on bringing alleged pedophile priests into this area. (More)

New allegations put pressure on archbishop to send priest home
By Tim Townsend
Of the Post-Dispatch
Thursday, Jan. 20 2005

Twelve new victims have alleged abuse by an admitted pedophile priest who lives
near two schools in University City.  (More)

Archdiocesan Priest Arrested on Sex Charge

1.14.2005 Statement by SNAP outreach director Barbara Dorris of St. Louis (More)

Police arrest priest accused of molestation

Two years after he resigned from the archdiocese, Father Robert Johnston is now the focus of a pending criminal investigation. (More)

Former Priest Arrested For Sexual Misconduct

A former Crestwood priest has been arrested by St. Louis County police.

Father Robert Johnston was taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of statutory sodomy. (More)

Former priest is accused of sexual abuse

Former Roman Catholic priest Michael S. McGrath was sued Tuesday over allegations that he sexually abused a teenage altar boy at All Souls Church in Overland in 1980 and 1981.  (More)

SNAP Calls for Ouster of Monsignor Stika
ST. LOUIS (2005-01-06) The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, is calling for the removal of a top official with the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

(More)

Accused Rabbi Teaching At Universities

By Victor Ojeda

He is barred for life from ever practicing psychology after sexually abusing some of his female patients.

So why is this man, who is also a rabbi, teaching psychology at two local universities?

On Monday, some called on the schools to fire him, before he has the chance to prey on others.(More)

Archbishop threatens to withhold sacraments
By Tim Townsend
Of the Post-Dispatch
Tuesday, Jan. 04 2005

St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke has threatened to withhold the sacraments of
the Roman Catholic church, including Communion, from board members of St.
Stanislaus Kostka Parish in a dispute over control of the church.

"I warn you...(More)