A new sexual abuse and cover up case - stemming from an alleged assault just last year - has been filed against a Florida priest whose brother is also a child molesting cleric. We hope that this brave woman’s decision to come forward will encourage others who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes in the Diocese of Venice to make a report of their own.

Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin is being sued for reportedly sexually violating a woman in April 2018. Seven months later, in November of 2018, he was put on leave. Notably, his brother, Fr. Edward McLoughlin, was defrocked in 2000 for child sexual abuse and is believed to be in Ireland now.

The victim also says she was twice denied a chance to meet with the reported assailant’s supervisor, Venice Bishop Frank Dewane. It is disappointing and disturbing that church officials continue to make public apologies for abuse but choose to ignore still-suffering victims in private.

We applaud this courageous woman as her actions may well spare others substantial harm. We hope that others who experienced sexual abuse – whether by Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin or others – will call independent sources of help like therapists, law enforcement and support groups like ours.

CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009)

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)