SNAP
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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

SNAP Press Statement

Statement Regarding NY Court Hearing on
Statute of Limitations

 

January 3, 2006

Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago (312 399 4747)
Founder and President of SNAP

We're grateful to these brave New York abuse victims who have found the strength and courage to expose their molesters in court. It's never easy to disclose childhood sexual abuse, nor to pursue justice against powerful molesters and their supporters. Someday, church officials will hopefully see these victims as heroes, for taking steps to protect other children and to purge the church of serial predators.

We hope that New York's highest court will recognize what other courts have slowly begun to recognize: that archaic, arbitrary statutes of limitations give sex offenders incentives to threaten victims, intimidate witnesses and destroy evidence. These statutes are a child molester's best friend, because they enable him to keep on hurting other kids. Only by extending and reforming these outdated laws will we be able to prevent future sex crimes against innocent children.

Because criminal statues of limitations are even more restrictive than civil statutes, often civil lawsuits are the only way victims have of warning unsuspecting parents about dangerous predators.

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

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

Mark Furnish of Albany, SNAP Board Member (518) 366 5842

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

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

 


Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org