Deep Thoughts: Priest Accused of Exposing Himself While Driving

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Priest Accused of Exposing Himself While Driving

So let's say your driving down the road in your Semi complete with a flash Friday sticker on the back bumper. You notice a car with a man inside. He exposes himself. You freak and call 911 because this was obviously not what you had in mind. My question is, what are the odds the flasher is a pastor? In this case, it’s pretty high.

A local priest is in legal trouble after he's accused of exposing himself while driving on a local highway. Rev. Donald Snyder, 63, is charged with one count of indecent exposure. Rev. Snyder is a priest at St. Ladislas Church in Westlake.

Rev. Donald Snyder is a catholic priest as St. Ladislas Church in Westlake Ohio. If a catholic priest is caught exposing himself, will the authorities look deeper to see if there is any other odd sexual behavior? I sure hope so, although in this case I would guess they would be checking truck stops and highway rest stops, if you know what I mean.

Technorati tags: Catholics, Clergy Sexual Misconduct

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Jack 119p · 824 weeks ago

I'm starting to get the sense that there are not very many Catholic priests left who are "real Christians."

1 reply · active 824 weeks ago

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Baconsbud 96p · 824 weeks ago

Hey I drive a truck and yeah have had both male and females flash me. I would never call the cops because someone flashed me unless they were endangering others or the person was flashing kids. I truly enjoyed the females that flashed and if it was a guy flashing i either slowed down or speed up to get away from him.

1 reply · active 818 weeks ago

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Marie · 824 weeks ago

I am a parishioner in Fr. Snyder's congregation - and I can tell you he is wonderful. This is a shock to me, and I am not sure I believe it. It's one person's word against another, so unless he admits to it or more evidence surfaces, we will never really know what happened. All I know is his homilies are outstanding, and he has always been a fantastic leader in the community! I hope the accusations are false.

3 replies · active 656 weeks ago

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Ellen · 823 weeks ago

Fr. Snyder is a fine man. I base this comment on years of experience with him as the pastor of St. Ladilas. He's one of the most compassionate, caring and responsive priests I've known in 30+ years as a Catholic. I have considered what I know of him and what I've heard on the news and have come to the conclusion that I don't believe the charges are true. I don't condemn the accuser I simply don't believe the accusation. I could be wrong. If I am wrong none of what I know about Fr. Snyder will be any less true than it is right now. He will still be a fine man that has served his parish with dedication. I hope that he'll continue to do so regardless of what comes of this situation. We all - without excpetion - make mistakes or at some point in life take actions that are not congruous with who we either truly are or how others percieve us. For a person of faith that leaves me to forgive myself and others. And to accept what is real with the knowledge that all of God's people are vunerable to the sin of this world. Was, is and always shall be... so who here will cast the first stone?

14 replies · active 656 weeks ago

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Kim · 823 weeks ago

I have had experience dealing with Fr. Michael Snyder. Certainly, only God and Father and the truck driver knows if he flashed or not. However, based on the character and lack of integrity I have personally observed from Father Snyder, his integrity leaves much to be desired.

1 reply · active 823 weeks ago

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Sam · 823 weeks ago

I am also a Parishoner at St. Ladislas Parish. I am however not a Catholic, and only go to the church for my parents. [I converted to non denominational Christianity]. I have worked around, gotten advice from, and always admired Father Don. He's a great man, with a good sense of humor and honestly does give incredible homilies. I hope and pray that his honor was not diminished and he didn't do the alleged things. However, I am not one to judge. If he did, he did. If he didn't, he is innocent. Who am I to be the one that points a finger and tells him he is nothing because of what he might have done? Have not we all made mistakes? I pity the fact that his reputation will be altered in the view of the public because of something he may not have done.

1 reply · active 656 weeks ago

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Mr & Mrs. D,Westlake · 823 weeks ago

My wife and I know personally that Father Snyder has judged other people before learning the facts. His arrogance has taken him to where he is now. Maybe this will allow him to do some of the penance he owes.

2 replies · active 822 weeks ago

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Tom · 822 weeks ago

Wow.... Just heard about this and decided to google it. I am shocked at the news. Father Don is a great pastor. I was a member of the parish for 7 years and can honestly say I don't believe this. Ok people lets look at the facts.

-Truck driver says he see guy flash him on the highway and calls the cops.

Why is there not more to the story? Who is the truck driver? There are a lot of sick people out there who hate the catholic faith. Is it that easy to say "That priest flashed me and have him arrested"? This doesn't make any sense. Where is the rest of the story?

7 replies · active 818 weeks ago

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Kathy · 822 weeks ago

I have known Fr Smyder since 1975 when my husband died at 33 and I was 32 and left with 3 children. I do not think I could have gotten through that time in my life with out him. He talked to me cryed with me and was great with my children. I love him like a brother. I truly do not believe he did this and even if he did, who are we to judge another we can only look at ourselves and ask Have we done kind things? Have we stood by someone in their grief? What have we done to make this a better world. Fr Smyder has done many many things to make this a better world.

6 replies · active 822 weeks ago

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friend · 822 weeks ago

Mojoey, you are out of line. Will you apologize to the man when he is found not guilty. Maybe, someone will start on you. How would you like it.

7 replies · active 818 weeks ago

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Ellen · 822 weeks ago

I hear a lot of innaproprate judgement here. Morality isn't determined depending upon what someone does for a living or even what they believe. There are moral people of faith and moral people that have no god. For me the point is saying and/or doing anything that is distructive to someone's reputation before you know the facts is wrong. Let the man have his day in court. Why condemn someone because they are a priest or a pagan or even a truck driver? Opinion and condeming judgement are not the same thing.

12 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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Parishoner · 820 weeks ago

Wake up people -- Why would a truck driver who does not know he is a priest LIE about this???? I am also a parishoner at St. Lads for many years and he does a great sermon but their are other sides to people. I am truly disappointed to hear such sick news. Priests and nuns commit their lives to set good examples for all people. This is obviously not one of them.

17 replies · active 466 weeks ago

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A Disgusted Catholic · 820 weeks ago

My question is, why is this priest currently still allowed to be pastor of his church and preach from the pulpit? It makes the whole Catholic priest pedophile scandal make sense. Sweep it under the carpet, slap him on the wrist, send him to a counselor, but don't remove him from his position of influence and authority. The Catholic Church protects its own always to the detriment of the parish families. Who would want to hear about God from a man who obviously has a serious sexual problem and displays deviant sexual behavior? Yes, get him the help he needs, but remove this man from his pastoral post. Remove him from any post of influence and from contact with parishioners (especially the young). I don't care how sorry he is (sorrier that he got caught). He has permanently forfeited the privilege of religious leadership by doing the exact opposite of what he supposedly represents. If he remains pastor, what a travesty!!!

26 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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A Disgusted Catholic · 820 weeks ago

I live on the east side but a close relative lives in Westlake and attends St. Ladislaus. She told me she always got a strong gay vibe from this priest and that he creeped her out. The point is, for a segment of gay men, cruising highways flashing truckers in the hopes of hooking up is not an uncommon occurrence, especially for closeted and repressed gays. It just isn't. If it walks like a duck . . .

To those who still aren't convinced and live on the west side -- Fr. Snyder's court date was July 8th I believe. Court records are available to the public. Go to the courthouse and see what happened on that date. Was pastor fined? Ordered to get counseling? Was he indeed proclaimed innocent? Apparently the media isn't going to tell us. So find out for yourself!

Let's face it. The whole priest/celibate gig is a colossal failure. If a priest isn't gay or a pedolphile, he's usually effeminate as hell or just plain weird. Yes, there are good ones for sure, but they are definitely outnumbered. Hence, the sex scandal that has cracked the church wide open.

10 replies · active 656 weeks ago

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A Disgusted Catholic · 820 weeks ago

One more post and I’ll be quiet. For those who say Fr. Snyder is a fine man, compassionate and caring, I say this. For almost every person convicted of a sex crime, you will be able to find many people willing and able to say the exact same things about them. Sexual deviants don't look like Frankenstein. Mostly they appear very normal, can be quite charming which is how they manage to fool people and lure victims, and they’re able to function, often very successfully, in the world at large. It’s terribly naïve and ignorant to think otherwise.

To those who say we all mistakes and we shouldn’t judge – huh?? Aren’t there lines that if one crosses, there must be consequences and for good reason? If Fr. Don is guilty of this crime and remains a pastor because you think as Christians we’re supposed to forgive and forget, would you seriously want him around your children and preaching on Sunday about God's word because he seems like such a nice guy? When a man publicly exposes himself, it isn’t just a slip-up or a bad call. This is a man who's out of control, deviant, has major sexual problems and needs years of therapy.

7 replies · active 818 weeks ago

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Parishoner · 820 weeks ago

I understand the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty, but if I was a priest I would of stated that I was innocent, instead of saying nothing and getting a lawyer. Doesn't that sound kind of fishy?? As far as the truck driver would he really waste his time. Again there is no way he could tell that he was a priest.

7 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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Ellen · 819 weeks ago

I believe this blog thread will come to mind if anyone that has participated is accused of a crime. Guilty or innocent you'll want the opportunity to have the facts presented before you're put to public shame. We moved away from the public square stocks and humiliation decades ago. This type of blog brings us right back to a witch-hunt style of justice. At the end of the day that has been my objection - this blog seems to be to be more about mob justice than a forum to speak truth.

1 reply · active 819 weeks ago

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guest · 819 weeks ago

He has the right to a trial, since he was charged. He is entilted to this constitution states this. Don' t you think that this is a hard time for him to go through too? Would you come out in public and tell people that you were accused of this, even if you were not a priest. Priest and teachers are found guilty before they are found innocent. Get over it.

21 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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guest · 819 weeks ago

Maybe the truck driver has a problem?

15 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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guest · 819 weeks ago

Maybe you get your rocks off by ruining people. How do you spend your day on this. Why do you even care? YOu don' t have any faith in anyone. I hope you rot in hell.

12 replies · active 818 weeks ago

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guest · 819 weeks ago

To anyone who is a friend of Fr. Snyder, get off of this website. MyJoey is the biggest jerk around. You are only wasting your time. He thinks that he is God and has no faith in anyone. If we stay on this sight we are just as bad as he is

2 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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guest · 819 weeks ago

Oh, now I see that you can't handle the fact that when people are cutting you down, you look to see if you want to show it on the blog. Grow up MyJoey, Athiest will never amount to anything, since you have no beilf in anything. I can not wait until this case is over and they find Fr. Don not guilty. I know then you will take your blog off, because you will not want people who are freinds of Father will rub it in your nose. Anyways what kind of name is MyJoey sounds a little wierd to me.

18 replies · active 819 weeks ago

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guest · 819 weeks ago

What type of blog is this?

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herraraT 13p · 818 weeks ago

We live in Westlake and attend St. Lads, however, we are considering changing if Fr. Snyder continues to give the sermons. As of today, he served mass this morning. It's public record, he withdrew his not guilty plea to No Contest. Has to do community service, seek counseling and make sure the diocese knows about this. So my friends ...he is guilty for those of you that don't believe it. But he is still doing mass! I've read almost all of the comments on this site. I cannot come to look at this person with respect anymore.

1 reply · active 818 weeks ago

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herraraT 13p · 818 weeks ago

For anyone who has been a victim of any deviant sexual behavior by another person whether it be a "flasher" or worse, let me tell you that it has a devasting life long effect on a person/child or adult! So to say we don't have forgiveness for this person, it isn't about that. Fr. Snyder has a problem that probably goes back farther than this incident. This probably isn't the first time, it's that he just got caught. He needs help and he should be removed from the parish and seek the help that he desperately needs. This isn't about him being a "nice person" or to those who say "he's just human". For goodness sakes, keep it private. He choose to go public and he got caught, and I'm glad because he needs to get help. This is about a man with a serious problem. I hope the diocese removes him from St. Lads. Don't judge those of us that feel angry about this because until someone you love is victimized by a perverted person like this and their life is torn apart for a VERY long time, you would feel the same way and understand.

3 replies · active 818 weeks ago

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