The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press Release
Clergy sex victims blast new Supreme Court ruling
They want Steubenville bishop’s help with lawmakers
Ohio laws are “becoming more predator-friendly,” SNAP says
Group urges Catholic prelate to “become part of the solution”
It blasts him for praying for Pope & church but not for victims
WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
--blast a recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling that hurts abuse victims, and
--urge state lawmakers to reform Ohio’s predator-friendly laws.
They will also prod Steubenville’s Catholic bishop to
-- join them in lobbying legislators for better child sex legislation, and
-- post on his diocesan website the names, photos and whereabouts of all proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clergy (nuns, priests, bishops, seminarians)
WHEN
TODAY, Thursday, May 13th, 1:00 pm
WHO
A few clergy abuse victims who belong to the Chicago-based support group called SNAP, (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), including a St Louis woman who is a former Ohio Valley resident and is now SNAP’s Midwest Associate Director.
WHERE
Outside the Steubenville diocese headquarters/chancery office, 422 Washington Street, Steubenville, OH
WHY
Last week, the Ohio Supreme Court essentially ruled that no one who repressed memories of horrific child sex abuse can expose their predators in state court. The decision makes Ohio one of the few states in the US where it’s becoming harder for victims to take legal action against the adults who sexually violate them.
http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=inohco20100505625
SNAP will publicly urge lawmakers to introduce legislation to overturn the court’s ruling and re-introduce a one year civil window that would enable hundreds of Ohio victims, no matter who or when their abuse happened, to file civil lawsuits. (Two states, Delaware and California, have enacted such proposals.) The group will urge Bishop Daniel Conlon to support both measures and help them find lawmakers to introduce them.
SNAP will also criticize Conlon for holding a news conference last month to defend the Pope’s controversial track record on pedophile priests but refusing to face reporters who raise questions about clergy sex abuse and cover up cases. According to the Herald Star, at that event, Conlon urged "all Catholics in the diocese to pray for Pope Benedict and all Catholics in those countries dealing with the abuse issues," but made no mention of praying for abuse victims. http://www.hsconnect.com/page/content.detail/id/534823.html?nav=5010 .
SNAP will also renew its call for Conlon to post on his diocesan website the names, photos and whereabouts of all proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics who are or have been in the diocese. Roughly 20 of 200 US Catholic bishops have taken this step, which SNAP considers to be a ‘bare minimum’ public safety step.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/03_04/2010_04_10_Gossett_ConlonResponds.htm
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. It has been around for 21 years and has more than 9,000 members across the country. Despite the word "priest" in the title, SNAP has members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers.)
Contact:
Judy Block Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636 433 2511
Steve Spaner, from St Louis SNAP, 314-994-3534
David Clohessy, SNAP National Director, 314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915 home
Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director 314 503 0003 cell
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org