SC- Victims prod Bob Jones University to act now

For immediate release: Friday, Feb. 28, 2014 

For more information contact Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director (314) 862-7688 home, (314)503-0003 cell, [email protected], and David Clohessy, SNAP Executive Director (314) 566-9790 cell, [email protected] 

Victims prod Bob Jones University

“Don't wait for report, act now,” they say 

Group wants school to post predators' names 

SNAP: Thirty Catholic bishops have done this

“It's the least the school can do to protect others,” victims say

A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is asking Bob Jones University officials to post on their website the names of “proven, admitted or credibly accused sex offenders who have worked at or attended the school.”

Last week, university officials announced that a report on campus sex crimes would proceed. But their earlier decision to stop the report has led some to question school administrators' sincerity.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/02/25/update-bob-jones-university-rehires-firm-hired-investigate-sex-abuse/

The university's top staff should be doing everything they can to prevent sexual assault, help victims and expose predators, say leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

“Top university staff should take clear steps now to expose the wrongdoers and protect the vulnerable,” said Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director. “They should not passively sit back and wait for a report to be finalized while offenders walk free and might hurt others, especially offenders who might now be imprisoned had administrators acted more responsibly.” 

A nonprofit called GRACE, Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment was hired in Fall of 2012 to investigate campus sex crimes and make recommendations to the university. On February 7, 2014, Bob Jones officials suspended GRACE's review with no explanation. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/us/christian-university-under-fire-resumes-its-investigation-of-sexual-abuse.html?hpw&rref=education. The study was reactivated on February 25, with an announcement to students and the press.
 
“GRACE was fired just days before they were scheduled to start their final report. While we are glad that they were rehired, the best step Bob Jones could make now would be to use their website to alert the public about dangerous and potentially dangerous offenders who hurt students or staff, especially those whose guilt is clear but who escaped punishment or whose sentences have ended,” said Dorris said.

“Roughly 30 US Catholic bishops have, under pressure, posted names, photos and work histories of predator priests,” said David Clohessy, SNAP's director. “This is a bare minimum public safety step. If bishops can do this, so can Bob Jones.”

A list of those bishops is here: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm   

A list of some of Bob Jones' problematic alums and ex-staff is here:

http://storify.com/queenknitter/the-proof-is-in-the-product 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 15,000 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, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])