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SNAPSteubenville Press Release, Wednesday, November 28, 2007
For immediate release: Wednesday, Nov.28
For more
information: Judy Jones 636-433-2511
Helen Schoeppner 740-568-8213, David
Clohessy 314-566-9790
- Clergy sex abuse victims blast bishop's
delay
- He waited more than 2 months before suspending accused predator
- "Such secrecy & foot-dragging puts kids at risk," self help group
asserts
- SNAP prods Conlon to "explain and apologize for his reckless
inaction"
- Catholics also deserve to know about gaps in sex offender's
work history, SNAP says
- It believes that church officials must
aggressively reach out to anyone who saw, suspected or suffered
abuse
A support group for clergy molestation victims is charging that
Steubenville's Catholic bishop 'dangerously delayed' disclosing sexual abuse
allegations against a priest for months. They're also calling on church
officials to explain three gaps in the priest’s assignment
history.
Leaders of a Chicago-based self-help organization called SNAP,
the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing Bishop R. Daniel
Conlon about Fr. Gary Zalenski who was suspended on Nov. 17th because of
credible allegations that he molested a girl.
In news accounts, Zalenski
claims he learned of the allegation on Sept. 12, more than two months before he
was suspended by Conlon. SNAP believes that delay gave Zalenski considerable
time to intimidate victims, threaten witnesses, destroy evidence and fabricate
alibis. It also left more kids vulnerable to other sex crimes by Zalenkski, the
group says.
"Even kids know that when we suspect crimes, we call the
police immediately," said David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP's national director.
"Conlon should explain and apologize for this inexcusable delay. We pray that no
other kids were hurt during the months that Conlon kept this allegation secret."
SNAP is also troubled by some apparently unexplained gaps in Zalenski's
work history. According to the Official Catholic Directory, Zalenski's
assignments or whereabouts were not listed for at least three years - 1984, 1992
and 1999.
"Often, missing years like these reflect a priest being sent
away for treatment because of sexual abuse," said Judy Jones, SNAP leader for
Southeastern Ohio. "There could be an innocent explanation for this unusual
pattern, but in either case, Catholics deserve to know about these odd
omissions."
The group also feels that Conlon should more aggressively
seek out others who saw, suspected or suffered abuse by Zalenski, and urge them
to call the police and get some help.
"Many adults who were molested as
kids are still trapped in shame and self blame. They need and deserve help, said
Jones. "It’s especially important for the church hierarchy to reach out now,
because of this recently disclosed allegation and the possibility of criminal
prosecution."
"It is important that a safe place is created for victims
to come forward, break their silence, know they are not alone, and begin to
recover," said Helen Schoeppner, SNAP's co-leader for Southeastern Ohio. "In a
support group meeting, victims can find help and strength to get professional
therapy and report these crimes to law enforcement, so that others will be
protected."
The two women believe that church officials, especially in
the Steubenville diocese, still ignore victims of sexual abuse by clergy. They
are disappointed that Catholic authorities have rejected their requests to
announce SNAP support meeting dates in church bulletins.
SNAP is the
nation's oldest and largest self help group for men, women and children who have
been sexually exploited and assaulted by clergy. Despite the word priests in
SNAP's name, the organization welcomes and helps anyone hurt by religious
figures in any denomination. The group's Southeastern Ohio chapter also has a
web site: SteubenvilleTruth.org
Copy of SNAPSteubenville's letter to Bishop Conlon, sent today by fax and e mail, is
below.
Nov. 28, 2007
Bishop R. Daniel Conlon
422 Washington
St.
P.O. Box 969
Steubenville, OH 43952
The victims and the
supporters of victims of sexual abuse in the Steubenville diocese are alarmed
and very upset that it took you over 2 months to
suspend Fr Gary Zalenski
whom you say has a credible allegation of his having sexually assaulted a minor
in 1991.
Why did you wait so long to remove this priest from his parish
and make this information public?
This dangerous delay gave Zalenski
considerable time to intimidate victims, threaten witnesses, destroy evidence
and fabricate alibis. We pray that no other kids were hurt during the months
that you kept this allegation secret
Also, survivors are extremely
troubled by some apparently unexplained gaps in Zalenski’s work history.
According to the official Catholic Directory, Zalenski’s assignment or
whereabouts were not listed for at least three years 1984, 1992 and 1999. We
need for you to publicly explain where and why Zalenski was absent so
often.
We also feel that you, as bishop of the Steubenville diocese,
should more aggressively seek out others who saw, suspected or suffered abuse by
Zalenski, and urge them to call the police and get some help.
It’s
especially important for the church hierarchy to reach out now, because of this
recently disclosed allegation and the possibility of criminal
prosecution.
Bishop Conlon, it is time for us to work together to protect
children, and to help those who have already been abused by clergy in your
diocese. This abuse will never stop until there is truth, compassion, and real
integrity within the entire Steubenville diocese.
The abuse of innocent
children and the pleas for help from hurting survivors can not be dismissed or
ignored any longer.
Sincerely,
Judy Block Jones ...
<SNAPSteubenville@hughes.net>
17170 Deer Mountain Rd.
Marthasville,
Mo 63357
636-433-2511
Helen Schoeppner
....<hjshep13@suddenlink.net>
103 Social Row
Marietta, Oh.
45750
740-568-8213
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