December 23, 2005

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis
(314) 566-9790 cell
National Director of SNAP

"We wish the new bishop well and stand ready to work with him to safeguard kids.

We would feel more optimistic about the new bishop had he come from another diocese. The clergy sex abuse crisis has been especially mishandled in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Now is not the time for complacency. Often it's tempting for Catholics to assume a new bishop will be more compassionate and forthcoming on sexual abuse than his predecessor was. That's an unwise assumption to make. We beg parishioners to judge the new bishop by his actions, not his words, and by their observations, not their hopes.

The cover-up of horrific clergy sex crimes in any one diocese is never the work of one individual. Therefore, no one individual can magically usher in a new day. It's important that all of us remain dedicated and vigilant to healing the wounded and protecting the vulnerable, no matter who heads a particular diocese."

CONTACT:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell

Mary Grant of Long Beach CA, SNAP Board Member (626) 419 2930

Terrie Light of Hayward CA, SNAP Board Member (510) 517 3338 cell

Peter Isely of Milwaukee, SNAP Board Member (414) 429 7259 cell, (414) 963 8617

Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP Founder and President (312) 399 4747 cell

Mark Serrano of Leasburg VA, SNAP Board Member (703) 727 4940 cell, (703) 771 9606