Vatican--Accepting the resignation of Chilean bishop a start, but survivors’ group wants more decisive action
For immediate release June 12, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, Volunteer President of the Board of Directors of SNAP, the Survivors Network (415-312-5820, [email protected])
Yesterday the Vatican made a brief announcement saying that Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid. The bishop had been accused of covering up child sexual abuse by Father Fernando Karadima. Survivor Juan Carlos Cruz, one of those victimized by the priest, tweeted that this represented "a new day for the Catholic Church in Chile."
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-accepts-resignation-chilean-bishop-center-abuse-scandal
Like our good friend Juan Carlos, we are grateful that Bishop Barros has been removed. We also share his hope that this indeed heralds a new day for the Church in his birth country.
However, we were disappointed that the pope did not take the opportunity to specify the reason that he accepted the bishop’s resignation. This was an opportunity to state clearly that he was being removed for his part in the cover up of Father Karadima’s crimes. Otherwise we see no difference between this resignation and the earlier ones of Cardinal Bernard Law, Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop John Nienstedt and Bishop Robert Flynn.
Also we question whether resignation is a consequence that will have a significant impact on the behavior of other bishops. These hierarchs lost their positions, but they did not lose their titles, or anything else that we can see.
Until Pope Francis correctly identifies the reason for these removals as the widespread and systemic cover up of clergy sexual abuse, and institutes real consequences for this despicable behavior, we fear accepting this resignation is nothing more than a clever PR move. True reform, we believe, demands more decisive action.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - Tim Lennon (415-312-5820,[email protected]), Becky Ianni (703-801-6044,[email protected]), Melanie Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director