Clergy sex victims pan next week’s papal remarks

Group begs Catholics to “ignore the apology, insist on the action”

Self help organization wants the Pope to “end the excuse-making & blames-shifting”

It urges Benedict to protect kids now by disclosing names of all predator priests worldwide

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference,

As parishioners leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims will hand out fliers urging Catholics to
--ignore an upcoming papal apology about pedophile priests,
--insist on real reform, especially external investigation and monitoring of sex cases, and
-- ask the Pope to disclose the names of all predator priests worldwide.

They will also urge secular authorities across - Europe and North America – to
---launch independent investigations into clergy sex crimes and cover ups, like the Irish government has, and
---eliminate “predator-friendly” statutes of limitations which prevent child sex abuse victims from exposing predator priests and corrupt bishops in court.

And they’ll urge anyone who sees, suspects, or suffers clergy sex crimes to call police officials, not church officials.

WHEN
Sunday, June 6, 1:10 p.m.

WHERE
On the sidewalk in front of Holy Name Cathedral, 730 N. State Street (btwn Chicago Ave and Superior Street) in Chicago, IL

WHO
3-4 clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a Chicago-based self help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including the organization’s founder and president

WHY
Many Vatican observers believe that next week, during a large celebration, Pope Benedict will issue another apology for the crimes of pedophile priests. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/28/vatican-pope-apologize-abuse-priests/

But SNAP wants the pontiff to avoid blaming gays, journalists, therapists and allegedly “anti-Catholic” bias for the crisis, and minimizing the scandal by claiming the crimes are “years ago,” the cover ups are “history,” and that abuse is allegedly as common in other institutions.

Instead, the group wants Benedict to squarely place responsibility where SNAP believes it belongs: on reckless, deceitful and callous church officials who have and continue ignoring and concealing child sex crimes.

And the organization is urging the Pope to take proven steps to safeguard children now. One such step is to publicly list, on diocesan websites across the world, the names and whereabouts of all proven, admitted and credibly accused pedophile priests. (Roughly 24 US dioceses have taken this step, including the Chicago Archdiocese.)

In a letter sent today by fax and e mail to Pope Benedict, SNAP will ask the pontiff to “go beyond mere words, and take real steps to expose, discipline or remove child molesting clerics and complicit church officials immediately.”

CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, Therese Albrecht 708 263 3050