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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests SNAP
Press Release
For Immediate Release: For More Information: Clergy sex abuse victims & Catholics ask Vatican for help “Monitor and defrock 10 bishops who’ve molested kids,” groups urge They want 3 other bishops, almost cited for contempt of court, to be disciplined On 5th anniversary of Cardinal Law’s resignation, Catholics see ‘no accountability’ They hand-deliver letter to Pope's US representative after sidewalk news conference .What: -- monitor and defrock ten suspended predatory US bishops whose whereabouts are largely unknown, -- discipline three California bishops who have recently dodged contempt of court charges, and -- investigate other US bishops who’ve helped cover up child sex crimes The event takes place on the five year anniversary of the resignation of Boston’s disgraced Catholic Cardinal Bernard Law and highlights the fact that virtually none of the hundreds of church officials who covered up child sex crimes have been held accountable in any way. When: Who: For the most part, their whereabouts are unknown. This, local SNAP & VOTF leaders feel, puts kids at risk, leaves Catholics in doubt, and impedes healing throughout the church. These bishops include Thomas Dupre (Springfield MA), Kendrick Williams (Lexington KY), Anthony O’Connell (Palm Beach FL), Patrick Zieman (Santa Rosa CA), Lawrence Soens (Sioux City IA), Keith Symons (Palm Springs FL) and Joseph Hart (Cheyenne WY). Rembert Weakland (Milwaukee WI) and James McCarthy (Archdiocese of NY) essentially admitted having ‘affairs’ with adult Catholics. Within the last year, three other bishops who have NOT been accused of molesting kids themselves, faced the threat of possible contempt charges because of their deceitful conduct regarding abuse cases. They are Robert Brom of San Diego, Daniel Walsh of Santa Rosa and Tod Brown of Orange County. SNAP and VOTF believe their secrecy and deception are typical of other bishops. If their misdeeds go unpunished by the church hierarchy, SNAP and VOTF feel, other bishops will be emboldened to mishandle abuse too. SNAP is the nation's largest self-help group for clergy sex abuse victims. VOTF is a Catholic lay reform group that began in 2002 as a result of the clergy molestation crisis. SNAP is based in Chicago and VOTF is based in Boston. |
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Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests www.snapnetwork.org | ||