Statement Regarding
Archdiocese of Portland Bankruptcy

For Immediate Release:
July 6, 2004

Statement by Barbara Blaine, President of SNAP

In Response to Archdiocese of Portland Announcement To File Bankruptcy

While we want to believe the intentions of the Portland Archdiocese are sincere we must ask questions. In the past 10 – 12 years dozens of dioceses facing lawsuits for sexual abuse by priests threatened to file for bankruptcy but none has gone this far. The threats to file have been calculated schemes by both defense attorneys and public relations officers seeking an edge with no intention of disclosing the records.

We don’t know whether the Archdiocese of Portland can afford to pay the victims until there is full disclosure of the financial records for the past decades.

Regardless of the outcome of the Chapter 11 filing Bishop Vlazny and the diocese have a moral responsibility to reach out to assist victims and their family members for the devastation they endure. Victims who have been raped and assaulted by priests should not bear the financial burdens caused by wrongdoings of priests and church leaders.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation's largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures. The group has over 5000 members and holds support group meetings in over 70 cities.

For more information:
Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747

David Clohessy 314 566 9790

Bill Crane 503 781 5245