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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

SNAP Press Release
Giving Voice to Victims

 

For immediate release:
Friday, July 25, 2008

Sex abuse victims to hand out leaflets at courthouse

They want stiff sentence for admitted child molesting clergyman

One month from today, former pastor will be sentenced for child sex crimes

WHAT:

At a sidewalk news conference, child sex abuse victims and their supporters will publicly

- hand out fliers to passersby about a predatory pastor,

- thank the pastor’s victim and those that helped him to bring this predator to justice.

-urge other victims or anyone with info about the pastor to come forward, get help, and call police

The fliers urge citizens to call the judge and prod him to issue a stern sentence for the pastor next month.

WHEN:

Friday, July 25th at 1PM

WHERE:

Stafford County Courthouse (at the bottom of the Courthouse steps- enter from the parking lot).

1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford Virginia (540) 658-8600

WHO:

The victim, the Virginia director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) and other survivors and supporters.

WHY:

In May, Rev. George Lowe pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Seven other charges were dropped.

Lowe was counseling the then 15 year old victim, who attended Lowe’s church with his family. The abuse, which began in 1984, occurred at least 20 times according to the victim.

For 43 years, Lowe was the pastor at Mount Hope Baptist Church in Stafford.

In 1988, the victim went to a deacon in the church and reported his story. He was told that Christians do not bring other Christians to court.

The victim also reported the abuse to the Sheriff’s office. Lowe denied the allegations and the police decide there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue the case at that time.

The case was reopened last year. The victim wore a wire and confronted Lowe. When prosecutors confronted Lowe with these taped conversations, he confessed.

The group will also urge any other victims or anyone with any knowledge about Lowe to come forward.

The victim, now 39, lives in Falmouth, Virginia.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/052008/05282008/383011

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/022008/02052008/354042

CONTACT:
Becky Ianni, Virginia SNAP leader, 703-801-6044
Barbara Blaine, President of SNAP, 312-399-4747
Barbara Dorris, National Outreach Director, 314-862-7688
David Clohessy, National Director, 314-566-9790


Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org