We're here today for 3 reasons. First, we want to urge everyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Fall River area to come forward and to call police, expose wrongdoing, protect others and start healing. When victims, witnesses and whistleblowers stay silent, predators walk free and kids get hurt. But when we find the courage and strength to step forward, at least there’s a chance for healing, justice and prevention.

We are grateful that the predator in this case will not get off with a light sentence such as probation. Children are always safer when predators are behind bars. We thank the police and prosecutors for pursuing this case and helping keep kids safe in Columbus.

We are disturbed that Rabbi Shalman has been able to escape his sordid past and once again be in active ministry. At the same time, we are proud of the response from community members, most notably Rabbi Keith Karnofsky, who have openly spoken out against Shalman returning to the pulpit and done his part to warn church goers of Shalman’s crimes.

It is disturbing how easily predators are able to find potential victims by using the internet. For that reason, we are grateful to Columbus police for apprehending Fr. Patrick Hughes before he had the chance to potentially victimize more children.

We are glad that the Vatican has finally taken action to remove Msgr. Cristobal Garcia. However, this belated move does not change the fact that their actions in the past have done more to harm children than removing Garcia today does to protect them.

According to today's NY Times, Boy Scout officials are ramping up their public relations efforts on child sexual abuse before the release of more damning documents about child sex crimes and cover-ups in the weeks ahead. (Story here).

A Boston news outlet reports that the Fall River Catholic officials are requiring parents at one parish to sign a legal form that is apparently designed to help protect the diocese in child sex abuse and cover up cases.

Dear Judge Ann Mesle:

Because we have pledged to do everything we can to protect those who seek our help, I decided to write you directly about the hundreds of pages of private communications sought by now-convicted KC Bishop Robert Finn, credibly accused predator priest Fr. Michael Tierney and other clerics - communications to and from our group and victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, police, prosecutors, journalists and concerned Catholic parishioners.

Today the Pope is promoting Cardinal George Pell to the Congregation for Bishops, a powerful international body within the church. We believe this promotion is hurtful to victims.

We are glad that Fr. James Gaudreau has been removed from ministry following this allegation of sexual abuse. However, the Archdiocese of Boston can and should do a lot more in this case.

We are grateful that the Catholic employee, Anthony Martinez, was given the maximum sentence for his crimes against these two boys in Albuquerque. Children are always safer when predators are behind bars.

Today, Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Fort Worth has been promoted to lead the Diocese of Orange County, CA, replacing outgoing Bishop Tod Brown. Neither of these men have been friends to victims; while Brown actively perpetuated cover-ups and allowed abusive priests to remain in ministry, Vann refused to remove abusive priests or to apologize to victims for the cover-ups perpetrated in his diocese.