April 20, 2013

I hope and pray that the supporters of this proposed new legislation are able to be victorious on behalf of victims and get it passed into law.
To quote this SNAP article, the actual entity taking up this particular “battle” in favor of the Child Victims Act in Minnesota is: “…the National Center for Victims of Crime. Deputy Executive Director Jeff Dion anticipates spending $95,000 to lobby for the bill. Dion believes it has a very good chance of becoming law in Minnesota.”
Thank you to all SNAP and other supporters involved for working to get this legislation passed. It is so very obviously, needed.

posting a correction to my spelling in my previous post: Nuremberg (Trials)

Ms. Merrill,

First of all please know that I would not want to make any survivor’s suffering any worse.

I’m so sorry that you seem to have misunderstood what I said in my earlier comment. I certainly did not claim that any pope or anyone at the vatican ever publicly acknowledged any wrong doing.

You are correct in assuming that I am not a survivor of abuse by any priests or clergy. I am a survivor of abuse, nonetheless. Before joining SNAP I made sure the it was o.k. for me to join even though not having been abused in that manner. I joined because I became a catholic in 1994 and because I had raised my one and only child a catholic since birth in 1977 and I now have grandchildren who were baptised catholic.

And, I joined because unlike many other catholic parishioners of today, I BELIEVE THE VICTIMS. Believing that they have been grieviously harmed, in an almost methodical, and definitely systemic way in the catholic church, and not wanting myself or any of my family, or anyone else to become victims, I want to see an end to this.

I’m sorry that my quoting the particular part of the bible new testament in my comments, bothered you. I only fairly recently became fully aware of those passages, myself. And, I thought that perhaps there were other concerned adults who did not know what Christ is quoted as saying in those verses. Actually, it gave me encouragement to learn and know that death by drowning was specifically advised by Christ in the bible, as being the best “sentence” for the perpetrators of crimes against (albeit, christian) children. But, ultimately, we are dealing with children of the christian (catholic) church in the main, anyway.

I guess I thought that if more adults who actually still managed to have some belief and hope in Christ and the bible knew that, they would feel likewise encouraged and emboldened to fight all the harder in every legal arena that they could, to get this scourge and abomination in the church stopped. I have wanted anyone reading my comments and sharing my goal, to feel emboldened to continue the fight. It most definitely has been a long one.

I have hoped that together all of us who have this goal, would try to get the filing at the International Criminal Court that Snap, along with the CCR filed in 2011, brought forward and adjudicated, now. Because I want these criminals, found, arraigned in court, justly and duly convicted and sentenced. And, I personally, want the catholic church, from the pope, down, to be held accountable for these, their crimes.

I believe, that if ever comes the day that they are found guilty of heinous crimes against humanity, all victims will be better for such a public conviction, and that thousands of potential victims will be saved from the perpetrators in the future.

I believe this much in the same way I believed in the Nurembourg trials.

Until such time as that happens, Kristen I hope that you will find peace that sustains you, here, and where you do feel healing.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter

April 12, 2013

CALL TO ARMS OF ALL SNAP MEMBERS AND SIMILARLY CONCERNED ADULTS:

ASK the ICC (International Criiminal Court) at the Hague, to PROCEED WITH THE SNAP AND CCR FILING AGAINST THE Pope, Three Bishops and Vatican, et al., for Crimes Against Humanity, now.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
Remember: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41, Luke 17:2

Dear Noel Allen,

I am very sorry for your having been a victim. I am glad to read that you are coming through the experience, alive, and it seems, with some vindication and solace. I won’t discourage other people from buying and reading your book, but I will also add my own thoughts regarding future dealings with this whole phenomenon of “institutionalized” pedophelia in the Catholic Church.

Sadly, I don’t think that solution of this horrific problem should include “making” all of us concerned about solution and resolution, into virtually “self-help” authors. I believe that such a tactic is really part of the church’s “offensive plan”.

In my opinion, SNAP and other like minded individuals and groups, have arrived at the best way of stopping the c. church from continuing being pimps for pedophiles. Sue the c. church for crimes against humanity in the ICC, as SNAP and the CCR have instigated.

If all of us together, endorsed and promoted and called for the ICC to take up and hear this case, I believe we have the best chance of getting change accomplished in all the catholic parishes of the world and starting this massive change, from within the vatican, itself.

Personally, I believe, it is necessary for victims and SNAP representatives to learn how to talk with OUR OWN ATTORNEYS, rather than the church’s lawyers. We need ourselves, to “be on the offensive” rather than always being on the defensive. Victims need to be reminded, that they are not the criminals. The pedophiles, are.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
Please remember: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2.

April 12, 2013

Dear SNAP reader,

I honestly believe that the only reason these criminals, once convicted, don’t serve “hard time” in prison, is because of the catholic church hierarchy’s money bailing them out of our judicial system. I think much of the hierarchy is just ashamed and embarrassed themselves, and concerned that making these crimes and criminals known to the public, will essentially make many practicing catholics stop attending church and thus “dry up” large sums of money from being tithed and donated to the church.

Whereas, I think they could regain credibility and possibly, “allegiance” if starting with the pope and the Vatican, they openly acknowledged all these crimes against humanity by church pedophiles and vowed to make an end to “church-sponsored” pedophilia. I believe the prelates and hierarchy would do well to re-read not only all of Matthew Ch. 18, Mark Ch. 9, and Luke Ch. 17 regarding “scandal in the church”, but more specifically re-read (and learn how to apply) Christ’s words regarding children and those who abuse them, in Matthew, Ch. 18 v. 6; Mark Ch. 9, v.41 , and Luke Ch.17, v. 2. Christ advises death by drowning of such perpetrators, surely the catholic church of today could advise life in prison without the possibility of parole!

I know that the statute of limitation laws must be changed, and I also know that there are a few lawyers and legislators in our country who are already trying very hard to get this done.

And, I also know that thus far, it has all taken TOO LONG! As good as the judicial system in the USA is, it also is…slow. I think that not only should SOL (statute of limitations) laws be changed, but I think that laws regarding how soon these cases should be calendared once filed, should be changed as well.

As sometimes happens in other types of cases, lawsuits are brought to court sooner if a plaintiff is old, because if the case isn’t expedited the plaintiff may die before the case comes to court.

Well, I think that the chance of death of a sexual-abuse-by-clergy-survivor plaintiff also occurs quite often younger and sooner than in many other types of civil and criminals actions. So, I think that it could and should be argued that once filed, lawsuits on behalf of pedophilia victims will henceforth be expedited onto the court’s docket. These changes could and should be made, and put into law as soon as possible, as well.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
Remember: Matthew, Ch. 18 v. 6; Mark Ch. 9, v.41 , and Luke Ch.17, v. 2

Dear NY and all Snap members,
I hope that both fundraisers go well (financially, for SNAP) and am grateful to all those who are in fact holding the fundraisers for this good organization. SNAP’s sincerity and integrity in wanting to provide assistance and solace to survivors and to help solve this problem cannot be doubted, particularly in light of the measures and lengths to which they have gone in trying to do so, i.e. seeking out and joining with the CCR to file legal action at the ICC, filing a “shadow” report to the UN, etc., and organizing and maintaining this website to begin with and partnering with such important groups as Bishop Accountability.

When I first was made aware of this site, for a short while I was very discouraged to notice that they in fact had been in existence for over twenty-five years. Now, though, because I do believe that this is an extraordinary time in the history of both the church and the world, I have renewed hope that SNAP’s outreach, persistence and perseverance will really have an impact and actually help to STOP these appalling crimes against humanity being committed inside the global organization of the Catholic Church, this year!

Thank you for all of your hard work, and the things you post on this site.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
Please remember Christ’s words in the Gospels: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2.

Truly, this is “the church’s central crisis”, as you say Mr. Clohessy.

Lani Halter
Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke17.2. Remember, Christ has spoken on this subject three times in the New Testament.

At this point, I want nothing less, than the SNAP and CCR filing requesting the prosecution of the Vatican to go forward now, and for the ICC to make a ruling of “guilty as charged”! And, I want to see actual change in the church, after such a verdict. As I’ve said many times now, “authorized” and enabled pedophilia by priests and laity in the Catholic Church MUST BE STOPPED, NOW!!!

The course has already been charted by SNAP and the CCR, and it has already been accepted into the ICC at the Hague. Please let the trial go forward, now, beginning in APRIL 2013.

Respectfully,
Lani Halter
Remember the Gospel writings in: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke17.2. Christ has spoken on this subject three times in the New Testament.

Wed., April 10, 2013

Dear SNAP Directors,

In a postscript to my comment just posted, please give all of us SNAP members an current (April 2013) UPDATE on the ICC filing and let us know if this case will go forward soon.

Quoting again here a few of the leaders whose comments regarding the SNAP/CCR 2011 legal filing at the ICC in The Hague that you have already quoted, (but that many here on this site may not have read yet):

 The complaint to the ICC “suddenly reframes the issue in the public consciousness.” – Tim Kosnoff, Seattle attorney. Taken from the Seattle Times.

 “The ICC filing marks the most substantive effort yet to hold the pope and Vatican accountable in an international court for sexual abuse by priests.” – Nathan Koppel, WSJ contributor. Taken from the Wall Street Journal.

 “The Holy See is a sovereign, which like all other sovereigns, must be accountable for violations of human rights. SNAP’s action under the ICC is timely and appropriate. If successful, it will secure more protection for children not just against the Holy See, but all sovereigns.” – Marci A. Hamilton, Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law Yeshiva University

I agree with each of these statements and just pray that all the survivors in SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) will, with the continued help of the CCR and the United Nations if necessary, will be successful in having their complaint heard and ruled on at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, soon.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
Please remember my motto, which is to remind others of: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2.

Wed., April 10, 2013

Dear SNAP members,

I say “thank God” for a person like Mike McQueary. (And, a website like SNAP.) I don’t know, and hate to think how many more children (and their parents) would have suffered at the hands of Sandusky, and others there like him, if Mr. McQueary had not been willing to report the incident he saw, and then persevere to trial and conviction, even after his initial report was ignored and otherwise covered up and he was nearly completely vilified for being a “whistleblower” about such a heinous criminal predator. *(please see link to new article about current status of Mike McQueary and family)

And, thank goodness the whole “Sandusky scandal” made the Pennsylvania legislature think about all children who have been, and/or are currently being afflicted and abused by pedophiles.

Personally, I believe that this phenomenon is worldwide, (i.e. “global” in the current vernacular). And what’s more, I believe that amongst the primary places pedophiles are active predators, is in the Catholic Church, today, 2013.

I believe that it will be necessary to have new pertinent laws in each of the individual countries, but also to have the criminal action brought against the pope and the Catholic Church at the ICC for crimes against humanity, commenced.

Since I am an American and have been, my whole life, I will be extremely glad to have the USA (including current and former Catholics here) lead the fight against child sexual abuse, that sadly and heinously often includes not only rape, but production of child pornography, and ultimately, death of the victim; I will be glad that our country’s system of justice can and will be designed to help make sure everything is done to see the day when the scourge of pedophiles and the destruction of our children and our society and world, is STOPPED.

Please keep up the good work and continue the battle through and on, even as Mr. McQueary brought himself forward to do.

Best regards,
Lani Halter
Please remember my motto, which is to remind others of: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2.

*http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf—mike-mcqueary-estranged—files-4-million-whistleblower-lawsuit.html

Dear Mrs. Dorris,

Could you please explain the specific “mission statement” of the Royal Commission into Child Abuse for me? I admit that while I know they will be listening to victims, beyond that, I don’t know what powers or actions that this commission can take or merely, suggest?

I know that all victims being able to come forward is a laudable goal for SNAP and other like-minded groups; but not knowing if all will ever be heard, and not knowing if there will still be many who simply cannot come forward (and, I personally, hold nothing “against” them, if they cannot), I am still interested in knowing what the designated task(s) and goal and/or specific end result of this commission is. (e.g. new secular laws?)

Thank you.
Lani Halter
Please remember: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41, and Luke 17:2 and please note, Christ was talking to interested and concerned adults in these scriptures.

April 10, 2013

Dear SNAP,

Quick question. Is there an easy way to now, name and include the new pope in the filing before the ICC? And, if there is a way, is anyone attempting that, now?

Sincerly,
Lani Halter

April 9, 2013

Dear SNAP,

Thank you for informing us all.

I know I for one, cannot look at the attached videos at this time. I know I will find it both fearsome and sickening to look into the face of such a man, an enabler and possibly a pedophile himself.

Yes, I too, certainly hope that the deposition of former archbishop Hanus will go on, as scheduled. I admit, that as soon as you said Hanus had resigned I had mistakenly assumed that the authorities and legal system could not go forward with deposing him. Thank you for reminding us that (in this country, the USA) although he has retired, he is still alive and has already been subpoenaed.

Again, thank you Mr. Clohessy, for paying attention to all of these cases, on behalf of yourself and all survivors of abuse by catholic priests; and, in fact, on behalf of all of us concerned adults who truly want the scourge of “informed to other active priests” and thus, enabled pedophelia, in the catholic church, ENDED.

Regards,
Lani Halter
Matthew, Mark, Luke (18:6, 9:41, and 17:2)

April 10, 2013

Dear Mr. Clohessy,

For all the reasons you state, thank you for posting this aout the death of Joseph J. Lang. He obviously served as a priest for over 30 years…I pray for healing of all those he harmed.

Actually, because of pedophiles like him, it’s hard for me to continue to believe in God, the Trinity and prayer. I refuse to let the pedophiles rob me of my beliefs though. I refuse.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
I say, remember: Matthew 18:6, Mar 9:41 and Luke 17:2 and, remember that Christ was speaking to adults, in these passages.

April 9, 2013

Dear Ms. Goodnow,

I hope (and I try to remember to pray), that approaching the civil authorities on all of these matters continues to become and in fact, be, the norm from this time, forward!

No matter when the “zero tolerance”’ policy was instituted, if it has not been consistently and diligently applied and followed (obviously, it hasn’t yet), I think we all should continue to call for zero tolerance, nonetheless.

I also think that members of SNAP and other human rights groups, should move forward on all fronts, every means available to STOP pedophilia in the Catholic Church. I do not believe that Christ would or did encourage a church being built that would become and eventually be the world’s largest purveyor of pedophiles.

Kind regards,
Lani Halter
Please Remember: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2

April 8, 2013

I’m just writing to ask if there is any more news of the commencement of The Royal Commission into Child Abuse in Australia. I know, it’s only been 4 days…but, it’s hard to be patient for good news.

Thank you, if you have any news to report.
Sincerely,
Lani Halter

Monday, April 08, 2013
re: AZ – Case against abusive priest in Phoenix moves slowly

Dear Members of SNAP,

I wish there were a way to “un-know” something. Sadly, there isn’t. I suppose that fact that there isn’t, is what makes me keep coming back to the SNAP website.

If I cannot un-know things that I now know about pedophiles and specifically about the particular problem of hordes of pedophiles having joined and continuing joining the catholic church almost as moths madly flying into a burning, bare light bulb during the dark; I will continue to want and search for correction of this horrible circumstance and to seek enlightenment by and of all Catholics including non-pedophile parishioners, clergy and laity, that these crimes have got to be STOPPED.

In my 20 years of being a catholic, I appreciated many, many things about the church. However, it now seems nothing that I have appreciated about being catholic is enough to compensate or perhaps I should say, is enough to keep me in the church without first fighting and struggling to see this abomination of rampant pedophilia permanently staunched.

I have not yet been able to quench or squelch my desire to see all of the offenders removed from the church in one fell swoop! I no longer care whether or not the Catholic Church while going into the future would quite possibly not remain a “viable” church were that to happen.

However, if all these pedophiles were in fact, not forgiven and are in fact removed from the Catholic priesthood, clergy, hierarchy, prelate, and laity (whatever names and labels, assignations they work under, wherever they are found) and if all parishioners were if fact encouraged by any sitting pope, to come forward to secular authorities to report sexual abuse by priests, etc. the goal of ridding the catholic church of these predators could nearly be achieved in full.

I think that IF the non-pedophile hierarchy of the church refuses to remove these criminals who are in fact committing their heinous crimes against children and all of humanity; the church as we know it, should fall.

And, IF the non-pedophile church hierarchy is simultaneously aware that these criminals are telling their innocent victims that supposedly they (the pedophile clergy and laity) are acting in the name of God and the church, and explicitly with “church approved”, representation of Christ while committing these crimes, and the victims are made to understand that these pedophile priests and laity are in fact, acting with the unannounced collusion and acknowledgement of the catholic church hierarchy and its leader, then I believe that the Catholic church does deserve to collapse into rubble of stones.

It should collapse for lack of parishioners. It should collapse for lack of parishioners who are every age from birth to old age. And the church should collapse for lack of parishioners’ money and lack of parishioners’ talents and lack of parishioners’ wisdom and/or need thereof, and especially from lack of parishioners’ who remain loyal to this particular Catholic church on this earth.

I believe that because of this ongoing “viral” scandal and scourge of pedophile Catholic priests and prelate and laity in today’s Catholic church that it has become something that neither, Christ, nor Peter and the disciples, nor the Holy Spirit and finally, nor even, God on high, have led the catholic church to be, that in fact only men of dispicable character have led the church to become clearly what it is, today.

In fact today, the Catholic Church seems more like a “holding company” for its collected money, art collections, structures and libraries and real estate around the world, than a church of God and the Trinity. And, MORE IMPORTANTLY if allowed to remain functioning at the status quo, it is AS BEING and keeping a “pool” of innocent children for being nothing less than potential victims for all the pedophiles the church currently embraces, employs and enables. I believe that if the Catholic Church hierarchy and pope, continue in actuality to refuse to remove these criminals, that the end of the church, is imminent. Because, we will not give up, nor will we willingly “give” our children and grandchildren, our precious “treasure” and the future of this earth, to their pedophiles. It’s that simple.

“I don’t think they have the ability to improve the situation,” Wall * said of church officials. He said he believes if church leaders were thorough in dealing with sex-related cases, the church would lose so many priests that it would be hard to continue.

(*Patrick Wall is a former priest who now is an investigator in clergy-abuse cases and is originally quoted in the accompanying article by Michael Clancy of The Republic and azcentraldotcom)

I think I disagree with Mr. Wall, only because dealing thoroughly with the sex-related cases, is something that the Catholic Church has not yet ever tried! If they did directly deal with sex-related cases with a zero-tolerance attitude being spread throughout the worldwide church, it might actually prove to attract more men to the priesthood who are not pedophiles. It might actually, attract those who did not feel they could deal with the pedophiles and rapists, themselves, that alone they could not deal with them on their own while at the same time trying to fulfill the religious teachings and sacraments of the church, for any given parish.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2. And please choose to live by this advice from the Christ as quoted in the Gospels.

Sincerely,
Lani Halter

April 8, 2013

Dear Mrs. Blaine,

Can it be possible that it is true that Italy does not allow cases of sexual assault by pedophile Catholic priests and laity "practicing outside of the Vatican, but still in Italy) to be reported in their police departments and nor allow legal actions to be brought in their public (Italian, secular) judicial systems? I suppose my being only a convert to Catholicism in 1994, I might not be aware of the (what is to, me) seemingly “strange” symbiosis between the Vatican and the country of Italy.

No matter. If we have only just now found out that it is true, I believe all the more reason for SNAP and other groups like them to continue to do the hard work they are doing on behalf of the victims. And, it makes me all the more hopeful that you can and will prevail! In my opinion there is simply no humanly possible excuse, nor divine “justification” for enabling, encouraging and allowing sexual predators and active pedophile priests and laity free run over the children of the Catholic Church. We do not have to forgive them, nor should the church hierarchy be allowed to continue to hide them.

So, as I said earlier today, I still want very much to encourage all the members of SNAP, the CCR and the attorneys and judges of ICC to pursue all avenues of legal prosecution, (now) of both the current Pope Francis and previous Pope Benedict and the Vatican (Catholic Church), in this matter.

Thank you for you constant and difficult, precedent-breaking hard work in this entire matter!

Sincerely,
Lani Halter
Mother and Grandmother

April 8, 2013

re: the above article entitled: “Argentina Bishops Delayed Abuse Plan”

Dear Members of SNAP and others concerned,

Oh…I’m truly saddened by the fact that the more I read about this new pope, the less I “like” or “have respect” for him. I’ve been trying to be open-minded, non-judgmental, and to withhold criticism until he demonstrated “his true colors” with regards to the whole clergy and laity pedophilia issue rampant in the Catholic Church.

However, this article shows that the new Pope Francis has a long history of holding little regard for the victims, let alone of having a plan on how to cope and deal with pedophiles being priests and prelates in the Catholic Church.

I wish the answers were simple. I believe the answers are there, just that it is a more painstaking and arduous task than most humans of conscience would like or want to be faced and forced to deal with. It is, after all, a criminal issue we are talking about. The abuse of the children of the Catholic Church, is in fact crimes against humanity. It would be different if we were talking about one or two incidents having happened several years ago. But we’re not. The scope and number of victims of these priests and laity, is nearly mind-boggling!

Towards the end of the article, some “excuses” were put forth by an unidentified spokesperson at the Holy See saying that in some countries the bishops would be “persecuted” (seemingly meaning, if accusations against the offending priest were reported to the police.) China was mentioned as just such a country. I would have two or three responses to that excuse proffered as a “legitimate” reason for not reporting accusations of sexual abuse to secular, civil authorities.

First, if in fact the Catholic Church were and had already been implementing a “zero tolerance” for pedophiles in the clergy, perhaps there would no longer be any priest pedophiles working and living in China who would need to be reported.

Second, if hearing accusations and reporting the accusations to the proper public authorities immediately, were in fact the actual norm and policy of all church officials, worldwide, then I believe that were any lingering pedophile priests actually in or contemplating assignment to such countries as China, perhaps they should also be apprised before accepting assignment there, that if they were indeed “practicing pedophiles” it would become apparent and the church would not be able to offer the kind of judicial system found in the United States and thus would not “protect” the offender from “undue persecution” in countries such as China. (I think this would be a good time to remind potential priests that the Catholic Church actually does subscribe to the words of Christ as found in the gospels and they should all be advised to read and/or re-read: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2.) Perhaps, disclosure of those two facts to anyone contemplating continuing to be pedophile predators while in the employ or otherwise under the auspices of the Catholic Church, might reconsider (on their own), remaining in the clergy.

And thirdly, in my humble opinion it is much more important for the whole Catholic Church (i.e. and most importantly including the Pope, the Vatican and Holy See) to care about and offer to END the extreme, inhumane acts of cruelty and suffering that victims experience(ed), than it is for the Church to care more about the individual, adult pedophile Catholic priest. A Catholic priest (and all pedophile Catholic priests and laity) who has (and have), hundreds if not, thousands of victims over the course of a lifetime of one pedophile while being enabled by the Catholic Church to commit these crimes throughout the world.

I still want very much, to encourage all the members of SNAP, the CCR and the attorneys and judges of ICC to pursue all avenues of legal prosecution, (now) of both the current Pope Francis and previous Pope Benedict and the Vatican (Catholic Church), in this matter.

The whole section on scandal in the church, written of the first three gospels in the Bible certainly applies to the Church today, as it did in Christ’s lifetime. The most pertinent, critical sections being those I will quote here again: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:41 and Luke 17:2.

Kind regards,
Lani Halter
Mother and Grandmother