______________________________
Statement from Cappy Larson, Orthodox Christian Director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
For more information:
- Cappy Larson (cappy@rlarson.com, 415 637-2006)
- David Clohessy, SNAP Director (davidgclohessy@gmail.com, 314 566-9790)
“Predator” bishop still on the job
- Deemed guilty by colleagues, he’s now in a parish
- His superiors claim “we haven’t put him to work there”
- But controversial cleric is listed on PA church’s website
- SNAP sends harsh message to hierarchs now meeting in Atlanta
- “Block this dangerous, deceptive and callous move,” group pleads
A Chicago bishop found guilty of sexual misconduct and forced him to retire by his colleagues is now in charge of a western Pennsylvania parish and a support group for victims wants him ousted.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-ousted-orthodox-bishop-parish-priest-met-20150716-story.html
Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing to bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) about Bishop Matthias Moriak who once headed the Chicago diocese. Moriak was retired by the synod of bishops in April 2013, after he was found to have engaged in sexual misconduct. SNAP wants church officials to oust the bishop from active ministry. Moriak recently began working in a parish in Hermitage PA. The OCA’s chancellor says that another bishop asked Moriak to take the position, but that this assignment had not been approved. He went on to say that the OCA synod would be meeting to consider the terms of Moriak’s retirement.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-ousted-orthodox-bishop-parish-priest-met-20150716-story.html
Members of SNAP have written to the synod pleading with them to put the kibosh on this assignment. All of the bishops are in Atlanta from 20-24 July, at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel, for their national council. The complete text of the letter, sent earlier today by email, can be found below. The parish in western Pennsylvania belongs to the Romanian Episcopate of the OCA. That diocese is led by Archbishop Nathaniel Popp of Michigan (nathaniel@roea.org). Popp is the longest serving hierarch on the OCA synod.
Cappy Larson, the Orthodox Christian Director of SNAP, said, “Even when a clergyman engages in sexual misconduct with an adult, the resulting damage can be serious. In the 16 years I’ve been working with victims, two who were abused as adults were in such pain that they chose to end their own lives”. David Clohessy, the Executive Director of SNAP, added, “While it’s true that the young woman who complained about Bishop Matthias rebuffed him and then reported him, another victim might not be so clearheaded”. Larson concluded, “The OCA synod should have zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, Bishop Matthias doesn’t belong in active ministry”. The OCA had at one time considered returning Moriak to his former position, and SNAP had objected at the time. The victims’ group had assumed the synod had seriously considered the ramifications of such a move when several months later they instead asked for the Chicago bishop’s retirement.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/il_offending_bishop_may_be_returned_to_ministry
******
Metropolitan Tikhon Mollard
Orthodox Church in America
PO Box 675
Syosset NY 11791
Email: metropolitan@oca.org
******
Archbishop Nathaniel Popp
PO Box 309
Grass Lake MI 49240-0309
Email: nathaniel@roea.org
******
Archbishop Nikon Liolin
PO Box 149
Southbridge MA 01550
Email: bpnikon@aol.com
******
Archbishop Benjamin Peterson
1520 Green St
San Francisco CA 94123
Email: vikenty@msn.com
******
Archbishop Alejo Pacheco-Vera
Av Rio Consulado E Iruapato #53
Col Penon De Los Banos
Mexico DF 15520
Email: obispoalejo@yahoo.com.mx
******
Archbishop Melchisedek Pleska
PO Box 1769
Cranberry Township PA 16066-1769
Email: melchisedek999@yahoo.com
******
Bishop Mark Maymon
144 St Tikhon’s Road
Waymart PA 18472
Email: vladyka.mark@gmail.com
******
Bishop Irénée Rochon
15 LeBreton St. N.
Ottawa ON K1R 7H1
CANADA
Email: bishopirenee@archdiocese.ca
******
Bishop Michael Dahulich
33 Hewitt Ave
Bronxville, NY 10708
Email: bishopmichael@nynjoca.org
******
Bishop Alexander Golitzin
519 Brynhaven Dr.
Oregon OH 43616
Email: alexander@bdoca.org
******
Bishop David Mahaffey
7031 Howard Ave
Anchorage AK 99504-1899
Email: otyetz@hotmail.com
******
Bishop Paul Gassios
933 N. La Salle Dr.
Chicago IL 60610-3204
Email: bishoppaul@domoca.org
******
Re: Reassigning Bishop Matthias Moriak to Active Ministry
Dear Sirs:
We are members of a victims’ group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are writing to you today because we are concerned over the assignment of Bishop Matthias Moriak to the Romanian parish in Hermitage PA. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, Bishop Nathaniel Popp made this assignment unilaterally, and it has not been approved by the synod as a whole. The piece goes on to say that you are meeting to consider the terms of Bishop Matthias’ retirement
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-ousted-orthodox-bishop-parish-priest-met-20150716-story.html
The OCA has made great strides in addressing the issue of clergy sexual misconduct, and we beg you, don’t approve this dangerous, deceptive, and callous move. While it’s true that the young woman who complained about Bishop Matthias rebuffed him and then reported him, another victim might not be so clearheaded. The consequences of the sexual abuse of an adult by a trusted clergyman can be absolutely devastating, even deadly. Please, continue your denomination’s progress. Let the OCA have zero tolerance for clergy sexual misconduct. Bishop Matthias does not belong in active ministry.
Sincerely,
Cappy Larson
Orthodox Christian Director of SNAP (cappy@rlarson.com, 415-637-2006)
David Clohessy
Executive Director of SNAP (davidgclohessy@gmail.com, 314-566-9790)
21 July 2015
http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_predator_bishop_is_back_on_the_job_victims_object
Voices from Russia 
You must be logged in to post a comment.