Victims unveil '5 point action plan' after UK papal visit-10:30 a.m. Monday

After Pope’s visit, clergy abuse victims announce papal benchmarks

They want Benedict's strong words to be followed by even strong actions

Group lays out tangible Vatican measurements to make church safer for all

Victims to flyer parishioners asking them to help prod Catholic officials now

WHAT
Victims of clergy sexual abuse, after making brief sidewalk remarks, will hand out to parishioners and pedestrian passers-by a five point plan of action to address clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the wake of the papal visit to the UK

WHEN
TODAY, Sept. 20, 10:30 a.m.

WHERE
On sidewalk outside Westminster Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in London

WHO
Eight clergy sex abuse victims from four nations (UK, US, Belgium and Australia) including leaders of a US-based support group called SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

WHY
Victims around the country want to see the global attention given to clerical sex abuse by Pope Benedict result in at least five concrete child protection measures by the Pope over the next six months to a year.

Victims believe that only these steps - simple, clear, measurable – will guarantee that the Pope's next overseas visit will have a lasting, historic and deep impact on the welfare of children around the world.

Each day of the UK papal visit, victims from several nations and SNAP leaders have focused on one of these

measures, through leafleting Catholics and holding news conferences.

Victims are urging Catholics to measure the success of Benedict's words and promises by his completion of the following 5 benchmarks:

-he adopts a global “zero tolerance” policy on child sex abuse by clergy to stop bishops from moving predator priests to new parishes, dioceses and countries and stay in ministry

- he sanctions, reprimands or publicly disciplines at least a handful of bishops who have transferred known sex offenders

-he orders bishops around the world to publicly disclose and post on line the names of all sex offender clerics and give evidence of their crimes to local and international law enforcement officials

-he urges heads of state and legislative bodies world-wide to launch thorough investigations of clergy sex crimes and cover ups as the Irish government has done (i.e., the Murphy report)

-he orders prelates to support, not oppose, secular legislative reforms, like extending or eliminating the statute of limitations, that better protect children from sex crimes.

Victims believe that the true meaning of the Pope's visit will only be known by the actions that are taken (or not taken by him) with bishops, Catholic laity, lawmakers, law enforcement officers, survivors and others in the next several months. Strong words, they believe, must be followed by strong actions that have measurable results.

CONTACT
Barbara Blaine (312 399 4747 cell, SNAPblaine@gmail.com, 07587206053), Therese Albrecht 07 570 893 544), Barbara Dorris (314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)