The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press Release
Ex San Francisco archbishop ignored deaf abused kids
Clerics are accused of molesting dozens of hearing impaired children
Vatican did nothing, however, for a year, even after publicity surfaced
Victims want Levada to “aggressively reach out” to “those who are hurting”
Now, Vatican’s #3 official, he’s in charge of clergy sex abuse cases wordwide
A Bay area man, abused here, has written top Catholic officials but gotten no reply
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will blast
-- San Francisco’s former archbishop for apparently ignoring dozens of Italian kids who are deaf and were molested by Catholic clergy, and
-- Vatican officials who are publicly attacking victims recently, including the Pope who called the on-going scandal “petty gossip” yesterday.
One many will disclose pages of correspondence he has sent to Rome about the predator priest who molested him and still lives in the Bay area. He’s gotten no reply from the Vatican.
They will urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups – here or overseas - to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers, protect others and start healing
WHEN
Monday, March 29, 1:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside the Catholic archdiocesan chancery office, 1 Pete York Way, in San Francisco
WHO
Three clergy sex abuse victims who are with a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
Clergy sex abuse victims are outraged that former San Francisco Archbishop William Levada, now the third highest-ranking Vatican official, apparently did nothing for a year about allegations that clergy molested dozens of deaf kids in an Italian school.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/26/national/main6334753.shtml
The group will publicly urge Levada to explain and apologize for his delay and use Vatican resources to aggressively seek out others who may have been assaulted at the school.
SNAP will also criticize the Pope for comments he made yesterday. In remarks widely interpreted as relating to the church’s on-going clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis, Benedict spoke of not “being intimidated by petty gossip.” And in recent days, high-ranking Catholic officials in the Vatican and elsewhere have called recent disclosures of abuse cases “despicable,” “ignoble” and part of a “conspiracy.”
Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, an aide to the Pope, told reporters on Thursday "This (the ) is a pretext for attacking the church . . . There is a well organised plan with a very clear aim." This theme was pursued by Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's newspaper, wrote in an editorial of an "evident and despicable intent to get to and strike Benedict XVI and his closest collaborators, regardless of everything".
These hurtful comments, SNAP feels, are problematic in two ways. First, they rub even more salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of tens of thousands of men, women and children across the globe who have been raped, sodomized and sexually assaulted by priests, nuns, seminarians, brothers and bishops. Second, they intimidated others who have been molested, are still suffering but are trapped in shame and self blame. Top Catholic officials are hurting and shunning victims, instead of welcoming and supporting them.
One SNAP member will also give copies of his unanswered letters to the Vatican about the priest who molested him (and still walks free). He’ll discuss his frustration at church officials who
CONTACT
Joey Piscatelli 925 262 3699, Melanie Sakoda 925 708 6175, David Clohessy (SNAPclohessy@aol.com) 314 566 9790
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org