PA--Victims disappointed over Sandusky pension decision
For immediate release: Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
We’re disappointed that state officials are not appealing the decision that gives convicted serial child predator Jerry Sandusky a generous pension.
Any time a child molester wins in court or gets special treatment or is publicly honored or benefits after conviction, it’s hurtful to thousands of men and women who were sexually assaulted as kids. It reinforces their mistrust of the justice system and it deters victims, witnesses and whistleblowers from reporting known or suspected child sex crimes.
We would stress to Sandusky’s victims however, that they can heal regardless of what happens to Sandusky. We urge these brave young men to stay focused on their own recovery. And we urge anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered Sandusky’s crimes or Penn State’s complicity to speak up, get help, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and deter cover ups.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, davidgclohessy@gmail.com, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, bblaine@snapnetwork.org)
State won't appeal ruling giving Jerry Sandusky back pension
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's large public-sector pension system isn't appealing a court order restoring state retirement benefits to former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
A State Employees' Retirement System spokesman says Tuesday that the agency plans to work with Sandusky's lawyers to . . .
Barbara Blaine, founder of SNAP, passed away on Sunday, September 24th, 2017. Her dying was sudden and completely unexpected. Words cannot express our sorrow nor are there words to express our gratitude for her relentless advocacy. She truly was a hero. There is an old saying, “well behaved women seldom make history”. Barbara made history and the world is a better place.
We have put together a tribute for Barbara Blaine to honor her memory. If you would like to contribute a memory, please send your favorite memory of Barbara to admin@snapnetwork.org
50 State AG Call for Grand Jury
Write a letter to the attorney general of your state. Demand, request, and beg them to impanel a grand jury.
Any investigation must be:
- independent of and separate from the church
- must have subpoena powers and ability to compel testimony under oath
Anything short of these criteria is a sham and whitewash.
In addition, write letters to the editor, make phone calls to politicians as they can apply pressure to keep them responsive to our demand. We need to make efforts to ensure that they follow up on what the state is doing to investigate these crimes.
The Attorneys General of forty states have inquired about the grand jury process in Pennsylvania. Let's get statewide investigations going in fifty states.
Note to Letter Writers
Use your own words and style of writing. Cut and paste from the templates as you wish. Include your experiences, whether as a survivor or as a member of the community. And relate your letter to the state you were abused in or state now living in.
Be the first to comment
Sign in with