SNAP of Tennessee
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests - Tennessee
SNAP responds to Pope's visit to US
On Sunday, April 13, 2008, SNAP will hold a vigil and press conference. Victims of abuse will ask that all bishops be defrocked who have been abusers.
Click here for press release from SNAP
Click here to see a video from YouTube of the rally.
Anthony J. O'Connell, the disgraced first bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee, admitted abuse. Click here for information on O'Connell.
Click here for a video update as of 04/14/2008 about the taking down of O'Connell's picture at Knoxville Catholic High School.
Many thanks to BishopAccountability.org for the table below
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| Anthony J. O'Connell
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| Accused in 2002 of sexually abusing a student from 9th through 12th grade at St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary in Hannibal, where O'Connell was rector. Complainant had gone to O'Connell because of prior abuse by another priest. O'Connell admitted the abuse and another similar case and resigned. Others came forward, totaling 9 by 2004, when 2 of 3 cases were settled. O'Connell moved to the Trappists' Mepkin Abbey near Moncks Corner SC. | St. Louis Post Dispatch 3.08.02 |
Shame on Bishop Choby! Shame on Father Ryan High School!
PAUL ST. CHARLES IS NOT VINDICATED! WHAT IS BISHOP CHOBY DOING HONORING A CHILD MOLESTER!The people of the diocese of Nashville and the state of Tennessee are completely duped by Bishop Choby and the priests of the diocese of Nashville. Bishop J. Terry Steib announced that Paul St. Charles is "credibly accused " of molesting teen boys. Bishop Steib has petitioned Rome to "defrock" Paul St. Charles. Yet, Bishop Choby gives a public award to this credibly accused priest and refuses to tell the people that he is an abuser. This is no way to be "transparent" about clergy sexual abuse.
Bishop Choby, you owe all victims of clergy abuse an apology. Tell the people the truth. Tell them that Paul St. Charles is NOT vindicated. Tell them that there are court cases in process right now. Tell them that Paul St. Charles is being defrocked.
Is this in the great tradition of Father Ryan High School? To give honors to child molesters? If Bishop Choby and the priests of the diocese had done their jobs, the good people of Father Ryan would have known that Paul St. Charles is credibly accused. They would know that this an outrage to all victims of clergy sexual abuse.
WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED ABOUT THE "GOLDEN GRAD" AWARD FOR PAUL ST. CHARLES?
We know that the Golden Grad award at Father Ryan is just about living 50 years past your graduation day. We know that it is not some personal tribute award. Therefore, the Golden Grad award should have been given to Paul St. Charles "in absentia." No public award should have been given. The bishop and the alumni association at Father Ryan could have easily made this point to Paul St. Charles. They could have said, "The award is in the mail." Instead, they allowed a child molester to appear in public and shake the hand of the bishop. The bishop has never raised a hand to set the record straight about the abuse of children and teens at the hands of Paul St. Charles. We have no pictures of victims of clergy abuse receiving an affable handshake from the bishop.
We call upon Bishop Choby for a formal apology. We call on Bishop Steib to stand up for his decision and demand that the people be told the truth. We call upon Bishop Steib to stand up and tell the people of the diocese of Knoxville that Paul St. Charles was assigned in their diocese as well. We call upon all priests to be on the side of truth and tell their respective churches about the credible allegations of Paul St. Charles.
Click here to see the disgraceful "Golden Grad" awards given to a child molester.
See Paul St. Charles on the front row. Do these Golden Grads know the truth? Did anyone bother to tell them that their classmate, Paul St. Charles has multiple abuse victims? Did anyone bother to let a victim speak to them to tell them why this is so heinous? Did anyone bother to think of the victims? Is this the way clergy abuse victims can expect to be treated across the state of Tennessee?
New chapters across the Southeast USA
- Alabama
Information of press conference in Birmingham, AL Friday, October 19th.
Press release and letter to Bishop Baker are located here.
Service record for Cuthbert Bender, OSB is located here.
Charleston, SC - Press Conference - Friday - October 26th - 11:00 a.m.
Savannah press conference -- Thursday -- October 25th -- 10:30 a.m.
SNAP press conference in Atlanta - October 23rd
- Letter to Bishop Wilton Gregory sent 09/09/2005.
- Assignment record for Joseph Reilly (note Georgia assignment)
Greg Salata - Lawsuit filed in Memphis 08-15-07; SNAP responds
Woman sues diocese for incident in 2002
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For immediate release:
Monday, August 20
Ann Brentwood, Southeastern Director, SNAP, (865) 984 7092, (865) 607-6119 cell
Susan Vance, State Director of SNAP of Tennessee (865) 748-3518 cell
David Brown, Memphis Director, SNAP (901) 569-4500 cell
David Clohessy, National Director, SNAP (314) 566-9790 cell
“Did Catholic bishop and clergy know of problem priest’s past,” SNAP asks.
SNAP asks the people of Memphis to demand more honesty and transparency
Victims urged to come forward, says SNAP leaders
Remove all remaining predator priests from the diocese promptly and decisively, Group demands.
Tennessee exports pedophile priest to Arkansas
According to the public record in the Official Catholic Directory dated 1965, Paul Haas was assigned outside the diocese at Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock. Haas is a known abuser; a fact not disputed by the diocese of Nashville, Tennessee. Did Tennessee pass on a pedophile to Arkansas? Looks like it from the public record. Click here to download this entire page from the Official Catholic Directory - PDF format.
Press Release for Monday, October 15th.
CANCELLED FOR OCTOBER 15th
TO BE RESCHEDULED (see below)
The press conference
scheduled by the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) for Monday
at 11:00 a.m. in Nashville has been cancelled.
Due to an emergency
(sudden death of a family friend), David Clohessy, National Director of SNAP,
will be unable to attend as previously scheduled.
A concurrent concern
is that the press will be engaged as well in the funeral of Charles Giacosa,
priest of the diocese of Nashville.
Thank you for your
understanding. We will be rescheduling
this press conference for later in October.
Susan Vance
State director of SNAP of Tennessee
865-748-3518
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Catholic bishop publicly honors pedophile ex-priest
Clergy sex abuse victims slam his ‘deceit’ and ‘recklessness’
Serial predator is being defrocked but Nashville officials keep this secret
Molester's career shows he had access to kids in Nashville, Knoxville, & Memphis
Lawsuits settled with Memphis diocese; more cases of child sex abuse pending against him
SNAP urges church employees to help reach out to others who are “still suffering in shame & silence”
"Insensitivity" by Bishop and High School rubs salt into wounds of victims, support group says
It also deters others who've been hurt from coming forward, exposing predators, and getting help, they fear
WHAT:
At a sidewalk press conference, clergy sex abuse victims will urge Catholic church officials in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville to
- tell the truth about a suspended predator priest who faces several lawsuits and is being defrocked.
- warn parishioners and the public - through diocesan websites and parish bulletins – about him, and
- apologize for publicly honoring him even after child molestation lawsuits against him were settled and others were filed
WHEN:
Monday, October 15, 11:00 a.m. CST
WHERE:
Outside the Catholic Center, 2400 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN
View Larger Map
WHO:
Several clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters including the National Director of SNAP, David Clohessy, who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP network.org)
WHY:
Fr. Paul St. Charles, a Nashville native and resident, was suspended from active ministry and sued in Memphis for molesting boys. In July 2007, several lawsuits against him were settled. (Other child sex abuse lawsuits against him are still pending). In 2004, Memphis Bishop Terry Steib asked the Vatican to begin defrocking St. Charles, because a church panel deemed the allegations against St. Charles "credible."
http://www.fatherryan.org/alumni/goldengrads07/inductees/index.htm
http://www.rememberthesurvivors.com/stcharlespaul.htm
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryLead.aspx?id=98610
See Commentary below
However, even after St. Charles was suspended and sued, Nashville Bishop Choby publicly honored St. Charles at a ceremony at Ryan High School in June. St. Charles continues to be given the title of "Father." Many Catholics in Nashville believe that St. Charles has been "vindicated," yet the church hierarchy refuses to correct this error despite promises of transparency.
Such insensitivitity and recklessness, SNAP believes, hurts those already wounded and puts kids at risk of more abuse. They want church officials to apologize for and explain their hurtful actions and take concrete steps to alert families about St. Charles’ status and crimes.
CONTACT:
Mike Coode, Middle Tennessee SNAP director, 615-364-2334
Susan Vance, Tennessee SNAP director, 865-748-3518
Ann Brentwood, SNAP Southeast regional director, 865-607-6119
David Clohessy, National Director of SNAP, 314-566-9790
Tip of the Iceberg Rally
Click here to go to the Tip of the Iceberg Rally information
PRESS RELEASE FOR TIP OF THE ICEBERG RALLY AND PRESS CONFERENCE ON 09/29/2007
Catholic bishop publicly honors pedophile ex-priest
Clergy sex abuse victims slam his ‘deceit’ and ‘recklessness’
Serial predator is being defrocked but Nashville officials keep this secret
Molesters’ career shows he had access to kids in three dioceses: Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis
Lawsuits settled with Memphis diocese; more cases of child sex abuse pending against ex-priest
SNAP urges church employees to help reach out to others who are “still suffering in shame & silence”
"Insensitivity" by Choby and Ryan High School rubs salt into wounds of victims, support group says
It also deters others who've been hurt from coming forward, exposing predators, and getting help, they fear
WHAT:
At a sidewalk press conference, clergy sex abuse victims will urge Catholic church officials in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville to
- tell the truth about a predator priest who is credibly accused by the diocese of Memphis and is being removed from the priesthood. The people have been told that he has been “vindicated.” As of now, cases against him continue to climb.
- apologize for their lack of action to correct the public perception that St. Charles has been vindicated
- warn parishioners and the public - through diocesan websites and parish bulletins – about him, and
- apologize for publicly honoring him even after child molestation lawsuits against him were settled and others are being filed
WHEN:
12:30 p.m., Saturday, September 29th
WHERE:
On the sidewalk in front of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 W End Ave, Nashville, TN
WHO:
Several clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters who are members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY:
Nashville native and resident Paul St. Charles was sued in Memphis for molesting boys. In July 2007, some lawsuits were settled (but other civil lawsuits against him remain pending). In 2004, the diocesan review board advised Bishop Terry Steib to request that the Vatican defrock St. Charles. Steib did so because the allegations against St. Charles were deemed "credible."
http://www.rememberthesurvivors.com/stcharlespaul.htm
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryLead.aspx?id=98610
Worse, even after he was suspended and is being defrocked, Bishop Choby publicly honored St. Charles at the Golden Grad ceremony at Ryan High School in June. St. Charles continues to be given the title of "Father." The people of Nashville believe that St. Charles has been "vindicated." The bishop and priests deliberately refuse to correct this error despite promises of transparency.
The service record of Paul St. Charles crosses each Tennessee Diocese.
http://www.rememberthesurvivors.com/servicestcharles.htm
Such insensitivitity and recklessness, SNAP believes, hurts those already wounded and puts kids at risk of more abuse. They want church officials to apologize for and explain their hurtful actions and take concrete steps to alert families about St. Charles’ status and crimes.
CONTACT:
Susan Vance, SNAP of Tennessee state director, snap101@comcast.net, 865-748-3518
Ann Brentwood, SNAP Southeast director, 865-697-6119
David Clohessy, National Director of SNAP, 314 566 9790
Cases against Memphis priests settled
Read the article in the Memphis Daily News for August 23, 2007.
| No. | Date settled | Docket # | Plaintiff | Priest |
| 1 | 06/19/07 | CT-004851-06, Div. 6 | Jane Doe #1 | Joseph Nguyen |
| 2 | 06/19/07 | CT-005076-06, Div. 6 | Jane Doe #2 | Joseph Nguyen |
| 3 | 06/19/07 | CT-005886-06, Div.6 | Jane Doe #3 | Joseph Nguyen |
| 4 | 07/17/07 | CT-004692-05, Div. 5 | 1 Victim | Paul St. Charles |
| 5 | 07/17/07 | CT-005869-05, Div. 8 | 1 Victim | Paul St. Charles |
| 6 | 07/26/07 | CT-004275-04, Div. 9 | 2 Victims | Richard Mickey |
| 7 | 08/14/07 | CT-006172-06, Div. 3 | 1 Victim | Paul St. Charles |
Click here to down load this table and other information provided by Memphis SNAP director, David Brown.
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SNAP of Tennessee responds to appointment of Kurtz as archbishop
June 12, 2007: Bishop Joseph Kurtz, bishop of Knoxville, has been appointed archbishop of Louisville, KY. SNAP of Tennessee responds to this announcment as follows.
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As archbishop of Louisville, Bishop Kurtz will still be in a position to know the problems across the entire state of Tennessee as well as Kentucky. Victims of Clergy abuse are hopeful that he will handle his future duties with more compassion than he has done so far in the diocese of Knoxville. We hope Bishop Kurtz will do a better job of listening to the pleas of victims in the following areas:
1. Naming the names of perpetrating priests across the diocese of Knoxville. To date the people of the diocese of Knoxville are unaware of the large numbers of molesting priests and the hundreds of their victims across East Tennessee. Kurtz has consistently answered our requests with a “Not-in my backyard attitude” as he shuffles responsibility off to Nashville, claiming “we weren’t a diocese then.” This is painful to victims and is deceitful to the people in the pews who are expecting truth and transparency. Such callous disregard for the feeling of victims is painful and wrong. See presentation at about the deceit of the diocese of Knoxville by clicking here. Message to Bishop Kurtz: Tell us the names.
2. Bishop Kurtz will not be able to side-step his responsibilities as he did in Knoxville. He will not be able to say, “We only go back to 1988.” He has trained the entire diocese of Knoxville to think that nothing happened here before we became our own diocese in 1988, yet the Catholic community of Knoxville only underwent a name change from “diocese of Nashville” to “diocese of Knoxville.” The pain of victims is real and pre-dates the 1988 timeline. The abuse that occurred here happened by Catholic clergy and is very real and very present to the victims. Message to Bishop Kurtz: Tell us the extent of the abuse and when and where it occurred.
3. Kurtz came to Knoxville after pedophile bishop, Anthony J. O’Connell. Bishop Kurtz has allowed and encouraged the churches and schools to keep O’Connell’s pictures on display. The message sent to victims of abuse by refusing the simple request to take down a molesters picture sent a clear message to victims that if O'Connell remained honored their abuse was of no matter (concern) to the Bishop. Message to Bishop Kurtz: Correct this insensitivity before you go. Take down O’Connell’s pictures.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ann Brentwood, Southeast Coordinator of SNAP , 865-984-7092
Susan Vance, SNAP of Tennessee, 865-748-3518
5th Anniversary of Resignation of Anthony J. O'Connell, 1st bishop of Knoxville
Letter sent to pastors of parishes and principals of Catholic schools on March 6, 2007
Letter to be deliverd to Bishop Joseph Kurtz on the 5th anniversary of the resignation of Anthony J. O'Connell
On March 28, 2003, we met with Bishop Kurtz and expressed our concerns about the lack of facts among the people of the diocese concerning the abuse by Anthony J. O'Connell. Here is a copy of that letter.
Press release for press conference in Knoxville on March 8, 2007.
O'Connell stated in the press that he had abuse "one maybe two" teenage boys. Read the expose by the St. Louis Dispatch that will show that to have been totally false.
Background information on O'Connell's pictures being left on display in churches and schools.
Article 1 Place of Honor for a Pedophile
Article 2 Victims write about taking name off St. Mary's Oak Ridge family life center.
Article 3
Article 4
"Where's the Perp?" A continuing series of YouTube presentations about where O'Connell's picture is still on display.
Bishop's Office
St. John Neumann
Knoxville Catholic High School
Many more to come . . . . .
Information for West Palm Beach
Article 1 Scandal still settling in West Palm Beach - National Catholic Reporter
Article 2 New Bishop faces old problem
Florida information
SNAP Press Conference in Miami -- Click here for press relesse.
Letter sent to Bishop J.C. Favalora -- Click here.
SNAP opens new southeast chapters
SNAP of Tennessee website
- Speech by Father Robert Hoatson. This is a must-read for anyone who comes to this site.
- Index to the right has links to pages by name of clergy.
- In the spotlight lately . . .
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Edward J. McKeown 09/06/2006 Lawsuit filed by McKeown victim. Accuses diocese of knowing and not protecting innocent young people.
Daniel Dupree Lawsuit filed in Memphis on 09/14/06 against the Diocese of Memphis concerning sexual abuse by Dan Dupree.
- Joseph Nguyen Lawsuit filed in Memphis on 09/14/06 against the Diocese of Memphis concerning sexual abuse by Joseph Nguyen
Harry E. Monroe
- Richard Mickey
- James W. Murphy
- Frank Richards
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- The Secret 18
- Memphis --- Wheel of Deceit
- Coming soon! Knoxville -- the "not-so-perfect" perfect diocese
- OpEd section by Mike Wegs
Memphis Wheel of Corruption
Click here for the web version of the Memphis Wheel of Corruption.
Click here for the Flash version of the Memphis Wheel of Corruption.
Click here for the Executable version of the Memphis Wheel of Corruption. This will download to your computer.
The Cover-up in Tennessee
WHO ARE THE ABUSIVE CLERGY IN TENNESSEE? ALL THREE OF THE DIOCESES KNOW. DO YOU?
Except for a few bishops across the United States, most bishops will not truly protect the people by letting us know the who-when-where of abusive clergy in their dioceses.
all your diocese and ask why we had to dig for this information. Should this not be made available under the concept of disclosure and transparency? JANUARY 2005 - Here is the latest plea from SNAP for complete transparency.Click here.Click here for the questions from the John Jay Study released on February 27, 2004. This is a voluntary self survey relying on the honesty of each diocese and the reliability of the records of each diocese.
Here is the response of the diocese of Knoxville when requested to tell us the names of abusive priests who could have harmed our children. The answer is in the form of a response to a letter to the editor in the March 7, 2004, East Tennessee CatholicIf this outrages you as much as it does us, do something about it.
Greg Bullough has a reasoned approach to the release of names. Read what Greg has to say.Click here.
SNAP of Tennessee
- Welcome statement from the National SNAP organization. (Click back button to return here.)
- Mission statement from the National SNAP organization. (Click back button to return here.)
- The SNAP point of view (Q&A with David Clohessy) (Click back button to return here.)
- Survivor's Wisdom by Barbara Blaine, founder of SNAP. (Click back button to return here.)
- Response to a letter. It tells what we are all about.
- Special site with flash presentations. ClergyAbuseInfo.com
- Information on the John Jay Study. Click here.
- Who are the abusive clergy in Tennessee? Click here.
- News Updates from across Tennessee. Click here.
- Press Releases from SNAP of Tennessee. Click here.
Tell us the names. Tell us where they are. Who is safe until you do? Why are we still having to ask for this?!
Each diocese has the list. We are not allowed to see it.
Each diocese has a secret group of abusers who are being hidden. We are kept in the dark.
Each diocese knows the truth. We are never told.
Each diocese hides their pedophiles. Kids are not safe. We cannot sleep at night.
Clergy sex offenders don't make it to the state's sex offender list. We ask that our officials find a way to correct this.
We demand that our children, teens and vulnerable adults be protected. We deserve at least that much truth from the diocese.
Letter from SNAP of Tennessee to Administrator of the Diocese of Nashville. Click here (Word). Click here. (HTML)
Letter from Mike Coode, Coordinator of SNAP of Nashville, to Paul St. Charles. Click here.
Statement from survivors of David Kelley. Click here (Word). Click here (HTML).
Ohio Supreme Court to hear appeal from David Kelley's victims. Click here.
Tennessee beware! Survivor comes to Fairfield Glade to warn of abuser moving to town
Vicky Cubberley and four of her supporters are traveling from New Jersey to warn the Fairfield Glade neighborhood about the man moving in next door. Since the Catholic Church never took action, Vicky's New Jersey friends will join Tennessee SNAP members to protect the children and grandchildren in the Crossville area.
Click here to see the press release, the story, and other supporting documentation.
Information concerning press conference in Memphis, December 16th
James W. Murphy, William Kantner, Joseph Reilly, and Richard Mickey.
Press conference coverage in Memphis 12-16-05
Letter to the officials of Tennesee dioceses
Letters about four priests that victims are asking to be investigated/reinvestigated.
Notes for press conference 011206
Click here to download letter to Bishop Joseph Kurtz.
Op-Ed by Mike Wegs
Op-Ed
section by Michael Wegs, a survivor of clergy sexual
abuse. Mike's perpetrator, Anthony J. O'Connell was the
first bishop of Knoxville. Mike will be writing op-ed
articles on various topics of interest to the survivor community.
Click here and check out the many topics that Mike has made available to date.
"Breaking the Silence in Tennessee" November 2005
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Click on the album cover on the left. We are adding more photos of our "Breaking the Silence in Tennessee Exhibit" as the days go on. Click on the "hands" on the bottom of each page to navigate. |
1. This is the best way to see the slide show in highest resolution, but you may have to download a free plugin to do it. Click here. If you cannot download the slide show from Photodex, follow this link to download the free plugin (Photodex Presenter), and it should work.
2. Click here to view the slide show on a separate page of the November 5th Breaking the Silence debut in Nashville.
3. If you want to download an executable (standalone) file that you can watch from your computer at any time, click here. This will definitely take some time to download, but it would be worthwhile to have it on your own computer. You can watch this without a connection to the internet.
Breaking the Silence in Tennessee November 2005 Information on press conferences, etc
Nashville Press Release Map to Nashville Press Conference
Memphis Press Release Map to Memphis Press Conference
Information on James W. Murphy. A man abused by Murphy will speak in all three cities.
Information on Harry E. Monroe. This abusive priest has been living in Nashville and working at a health care facility.
SNAP of Tennessee to help newly formed SNAP of Georgia
Click here to view letter to Archbishop Wilton Gregory.
Across the state of Tennessee
Click on a section of Tennessee. Information will be posted by region. If an area is under alert, it will be noted below by this icon. Click here for Support Group Information statewide.
