Child abuse group leaflets outside parish

They beg victims & witnesses to “step forward”

“Now is no time for complacency,” SNAP argues

Accused clerics often escape on technicalities or get light sentences

So it’s crucial, victims say, that “everyone with info calls police now”

Organization also blasts latest archdiocesan “tinkering with underlings”

WHAT
After a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will hand out leaflets door-to-door near a Catholic parish where two priests and a lay teacher allegedly repeatedly assaulted a child. The fliers urge
--anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups to call police,
--parishioners to overcome fears of embarrassing their church and talk about abuse, and
--northeastern Philly residents to specifically ask their loved ones if they were hurt by any of the three accused child molesting church staff who worked at this parish and now face criminal charges.

The victims will also harshly criticize Philly’s Catholic hierarchy for hiring another lawyer and another consultant yesterday to deal with abuse, instead of ousting credibly accused child molesters and taking strong, proven steps to help better protect vulnerable kids.

WHEN
TODAY: Saturday, Feb 12 at 11:15 a.m.

WHERE
Outside St. Jerome’s Catholic Church, 8100 Colfax St in northeast Philadelphia (215 333 0977)

WHO
4-6 members of a support group for clergy molestation victims called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long-time executive director (and who comes from Archbishop Rigali’s former archdiocese)

VISUALS
The group will hold signs and childhood photos.

WHY
Late yesterday, Archbishop Justin Rigali announced that he’s hiring another lawyer and re-hiring an advisor whose earlier 11 recommendations on clergy sexual abuse were ignored by archdiocesan officials. SNAP considers the moves “tinkering with underlings” that don’t address the crux of the crisis – high ranking church supervisors who are reckless, callous and secretive.

SNAP is also begging current and former church members and employees at St. Jerome’s to contact law enforcement if they have any information about alleged child sex crimes by two priests and a lay teacher who were indicted on Thursday. The self help group believes there are likely others who were sexually violated by the church employees, and others who may have witnessed the crime or the cover up.

Often, in clergy sex cases, accused clerics get top notch defense lawyers and exploit legal loopholes, escape convictions on technicalities or get extremely light sentences. So SNAP is issuing a strong public appeal asking anyone with suspicions or knowledge of clergy sex crimes or cover ups to contact law enforcement immediately.

CONTACT - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Karen Polesir (267 992 9463), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com) Barbara Blaine (312 399 4747)