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The
Survivors Network of
those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press
Statement
Sex abuse victims respond to
murderous priest's legal victory
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS02/701180429
For immediate release:
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007
Statement by Claudia Vercellotti, Co-Director,
Toledo SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (419
350 9234)
It's sad but not surprising when a convicted murderer exploits a legal
technicality to avoid justice. What's sadder though, is that time after
time, Ohio's Catholic bishops keep exploiting the same legal technicality
in child molestation cases.
Despite this legal travesty, Fr. Gerald Robinson (a Toledo Catholic Diocesan
priest) can do no more harm to kids. He remains behind bars. But when
bishops take advantage of the archaic statute of limitations, serial child
sexual predators often keep hurting kids again and again.
There have been cases where civil litigation has led to criminal prosecution.
There have been criminal cases re-opened, because a courageous victim
of sexual abuse spoke up and reported these heinous sexual crimes, from
years ago, to police and prosecutors. Case in point: the criminal case
against Robinson which was re-opened and actively investigated after "Jane
Doe" through SNAP, turned over documents to the Ohio Attorney General
who in turn, coordinated efforts with the local prosecutor.
However, because Catholic bishops repeatedly exploit legal loopholes,
hundreds of dangerous child predators walk free in our communities, secretly
preying upon vulnerable, innocent kids.
Who knows what else might have come out of the civil case had Survivor
Doe been allowed to take her case to court? If the Bishops really believed
in Fr. Robinson's innocence, why didn't they stand down and not use an
expired statute of limitations defense? Why wouldn't Bishop Blair want
the truth to come out?
It's difficult to imagine, Jesus saying, "Let's use Sunday's collection
offerings to buy pricey lawyers to bury the truth in legal technicalities
at the expense of innocent kids, healing and justice."
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Survivors Network
of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org
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