SNAP Media Events

• “Damning” police report will be released
• It shows priest admits “sexual attraction” to boy
• Cleric was sued and temporarily suspended in 2009
• But Vatican has just “cleared him,” his relative says
• So archbishop may put him back to work, SNAP fears
• Church hid the fact that a 2nd victim also sued & settled
• A victim’s friend & relative will speak publicly for first time

Facing Legal Harassment by Catholic Church Officials, SNAP, the Survivor Network of Those Abused by Priests, To Be Honored by Several NYC Catholic Lay and Children’s Rights Organizations

• Victims’ group warns hospital
• Accused priest now works there
• SNAP: “He’s been inappropriate with youngsters”
• Group questions the wisdom of keeping him there

Victims seek church whistleblowers

Their case against Vatican in world court is still pending

Top church officials are accused of “crimes v. humanity”

SNAP: "Current & former Catholic employees MUST speak up"

“Pope can’t fix crisis alone, every one in church needs to act,” victims say

• Victims ask for meeting with Pope Francis
• They want “real dialogue” with him about child sex abuse prevention
• New Pontiff already paid visit with Cardinal Law, who covered up sex crimes for decades in Boston
• Group says: “If he can meet with Cardinal Law, how can the new Pope not be willing and ready to meet with us”

Leaders of 2 groups appeal to pope about worst Jesuit abuse cases 

First Jesuit pope has unique opportunity and obligation

Pope Francis must make Jesuits “clean house,” groups say

Jesuit provincials must disclose names of known abusers, as 25 bishops have done

Jesuits operate schools and colleges worldwide; access to children deepens the problem

Two challenge new pope on crisis

One is a Catholic mother & archivist

The other is an abuse victim & advocate

Both see “major problems” with how church deals with abuse

“Western model” is “largely public relations oriented,” they say

Victims blast international movement of predator priests

Group wants Interpol to go after child molesting clerics

SNAP gives list of 32 who have moved to/from 18 nations

Over last 10 years, at least 6 from the US have come to Rome

Group: "Church officials should take accused priests' passports"

And they must stop letting child molesting clerics change their names, SNAP says

WHAT:

Holding signs and childhood photos at a news conference, US clergy sex abuse victims will

-- hand out a list of 32 alleged predator priests who have moved or been sent abroad,

-- publicly push Interpol, for the 1st time, to help pursue those who face criminal charges, and

-- discuss 6 priests – from Australia and the US – who face abuse allegations and were sent to work/ live in/or near the Vatican over the past decade. (One was reportedly still living in Rome last year.)