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The
Survivors Network of
those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press
Statement
Statement
Regarding Los Angeles Archdiocese
Screening of Immigrant Volunteers
June 21, 2006
Statement by Mary Grant of Long
Beach,
SNAP Western Regional Director 626 419-2930 cell
We sympathize tremendously with illegal immigrants, especially those who
want to work with kids and might not be able to because church officials
have spent years putting children in harm's way and then covering up the
horrific crimes.
Given Catholic bishops' continued recklessness with children's safety,
we are very reluctant to endorse a church official's plan that would allow
anyone to bypass criminal background checks and finger printing.
We fear that if illegal immigrants see or suspect abuse they may be less
able to report the crimes to police because of their unfortunate and vulnerable
legal status and the church's immense power.The church needs to make it
easier, not harder, for potential sex crimes to be reported to the police.
If we'd seen evidence of real repentance and reform in the Orange diocese,
we might be more favorably disposed to this idea. But when Bishop Brown,
and most of his brother bishops, fail to take even the bare minimum to
protect kids (like listing all the abusive employees on the diocesan web
site), we don't think they should be seeking even less strigent safeguard.
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Survivors Network
of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org
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