PA--Victims tell Penn State: "Let go of Paterno's victories"
For immediate release: Wednesday, Jan. 14
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org )
Penn State officials are trying to get NCAA officials to “re-instate” all of Joe Paterno’s “wins.”
We respectfully beg Penn State officials and Joe Paterno fans to take a step back and a deep breath and focus, even for a few minutes, on the lifelong pain of the boys who were raped and sodomized by a high profile university coach. And in light of their suffering, we humbly suggest that continued lobbying to restore Paterno's "wins" and fight sanctions seems increasingly shallow, unnecessary and callous.
If the alleged goal is to allegedly "restore" the university's reputation, we suggest a more dignified and compassionate response of simply accepting the sanctions and rulings and moving ahead without more litigation and lobbying.
Joe Paterno’s legacy is supposedly about teaching boys how to be good men. When a good man does something wrong, he accepts the consequences and does everything in his power to make it right. Shouldn’t Paterno’s backers do this now?
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We were founded in 1988 and have 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, davidgclohessy@gmail.com, Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org, Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, bblaine@SNAPnetwork.org
SNAP will be Representing Clergy Abuse Survivors in Rome!
SNAP will be Representing Clergy Abuse Survivors in Rome!
We are taking the fight to Rome and are standing up for all survivors on a world stage! From February 19-25, Board President Tim Lennon, Seattle Leader Mary Dispenza, Los Angeles Leader Esther Hatfield Miller and Austin Leader Carol Midboe will be traveling to Rome for Pope Francis' Papal Abuse Summit.
If you are a member of the media and looking to get in touch with these survivors while in Rome, click here for our media advisory and contact information. If you are interested in connecting with a survivor in the US from your area of coverage, please contact one of the SNAP leaders in the US listed below:
- East Coast/DC: Becky Ianni (SNAPvirginia@cox.net, 703-801-6044)
- Midwest/Chicago: Zach Hiner (zhiner@snapnetwork.org, 517-974-9009)
- Midwest/St. Louis: David Clohessy (davidgclohessy@gmail.com, 314314-566-9790)
- West Coast / San Francisco: Melanie Sakoda (melanie.sakoda@gmail.com, 925-708-6175)
If you are looking to help spread the word about the importance of this summit and for survivors to be heard, add your voice to the conversation on social media using the hashtag #PBC2019. Be sure to follow SNAP on twitter and Facebook and share our posts, add your comments, and let the world know that we are watching!
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