Victims rap Vatican child sex abuse guidelines

There’s “no stick or no carrot,” just “recommendations”

SNAP: Document ignores “crux of the crisis: complicit bishops”

Non-binding letter to world’s prelates “falls far short,” group says

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will:

- blast a new Vatican letter issued today on child sex abuse, and

- outline specific steps they believe should be taken to stop future clergy abuse & cover ups.

They will also urge
--every bishop, in the spirit of reform and child safety, to send information this week about at least one suspected child molesting cleric to local law enforcement and
--every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes to contact secular officials (like police and prosecutors), not church officials

WHEN
1:30 p.m. Monday, May 16

WHERE
Outside the Papal Nuncio, 3339 Massachusetts Ave. NW in Washington, D.C.

WHO
Several clergy sex abuse victims including leaders of a self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (www.SNAPnetwork.org), including a Chicago woman who is the organization’s founder and president

WHY
This morning, the Vatican issued “guidelines” for the world’s bishops on child sex crimes. They are merely recommendations, not binding policy with no penalties for non-compliance.

SNAP is upset that there is still no universal church policies mandating that bishops report all child sex abuse suspicions to law enforcement or suspend all credibly accused child molesting clerics immediately while investigations are launched. The group also wants church employees who ignore or conceal abuse to face harsh consequences and every diocese to post on line the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused predator priests.

Last year, Pope Benedict pledged to “do everything possible” to prevent future abuse. SNAP contends he’s falling far short on this promise.

The guidelines, SNAP contends, don’t really help protect the vulnerable or heal the wounded right now or in the near future.

Founded in 1988, SNAP is the world’s largest and oldest self-help group for clergy molestation victims. It has more than 10,000 members in the United States and six other countries.

CONTACT
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP president 312 399 4747 cell, SNAPblaine@gmail.com
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director 314 566 9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP outreach director 314 503 0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com