SNAP Complains Again

Members of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests criticized the St. Louis Archdiocese today because the former president of Vianney High School, the Rev. Robert Osborne, is listed as a visiting priest at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in downtown Kirkwood.

In June, the Marianist province of the United States –- the religioius order to which Osborne belongs -– settled a civil suit with an 18-year-old who had accused the priest of molesting him two years ago when he was a Vianney student.

SNAP official Judy Jones and national director David Clohessy said at a news conference today that Archbishop Raymond Burke violated the church’s national child sex abuse policy by assigning Osborne to St. Peter’s, or allowing him to take part in ministerial duties at the church.

These clowns at SNAP just don't seem to be able to comprehend much of anything - they appear to believe that an accusation - any accusation, even if it's not credible - is sufficient reason to remove a priest from exercising any ministry.

Last year, Robert McCulloch, the prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County, concluded that there was no evidence of criminal conduct by Fr. Osborne. And no charges were ever filed against the priest. After being vilified in the press and resigning his position as Vianney, SNAP continues its pursuit of this priest.

These behaviors are 'normal' for those who, like tyrants, see themselves as 'judge, jury, and executioner.'

SNAP continues to display its arrogance and stupidity with its comments and actions.



Today, there is a followup article in the Post-Dispatch, "SNAP, Archdiocese differ on ex-Vianney chief serving as a visiting priest".

Of course, there is a 'difference' - SNAP doesn't believe in the presumption of innocent until proven guilty. It subscribes to the belief that any accusation proves one is guilty and unworthy of any ministry. Perhaps SNAP could have generated more support for its worthy causes of helping those suffering at the hands of criminals and seeking true justice and prevention - goals which all of us support, I'm certain; but, when the organization pursues and harrasses those priests whose cases law enforcement concludes have no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, how can anyone not view those in the group as a bunch of crackpots?