IL --Catholic priest charged with child porn; survivors group grieves for the victims

For immediate release Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])

A Catholic priest in Mascoutah, Illinois, Gerald R. Hechenberger, was charged yesterday with dissemination of child pornography. The clergyman worked at Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Mascoutah, as well as St. Pancratius in Fayetteville and St. Liborius in St. Libory. These are all Illinois parishes in the Diocese of Belleville http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article193595019.html

http://fox2now.com/2018/01/09/associate-pastor-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography/

Child pornography is not a victimless crime. As members of the survivors group SNAP, we grieve deeply for the very real children who were hurt to produce these images.

While we are grateful that Bishop Edward K. Braxton has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation, we are extremely disappointed that he ignored the victims. The bishop requested prayers for Father Hechenberger, but neglected to ask for prayers for those children whose images were, and probably still are, being shared on the internet.

http://www.bnd.com/latest-news/article193598094.ece/BINARY/diocesestatement.pdf

SNAP applauds the Belleville Police for acting on the tip from Internet Crimes Against Children. Both groups are to be commended for working to protect these innocent children from further exploitation.

So far, the investigating authorities are not sure if Father Hechenberger produced any images himself or if he had any inappropriate contact with minors. However, we urge anyone with information, particularly those who know of a child who was in contact with the priest, to contact the Belleville Police Department immediately and let them do their job.

However painful it might be to learn that your son or daughter has been hurt in this way, it is only with that knowledge that you can ensure that your child does not continue to suffer alone and in silence.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) 

CONTACT

Melanie Jula Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected]), or Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (314-503-0003, [email protected])