Act 17

Join the SNAP Action Team

This Act is closed. Thank you to all who participated! We apologize that the website hosting this article disabled comments quickly - we cannot anticipate or control such events.

What: Only twenty criminal investigations have been launched in Switzerland against Roman Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse since 2010, despite church authorities admitting charges against 172 alleged offenders spanning fifty years. The Conference of Swiss Bishops states that many accused employees simply cannot be found. The diocese has provided investigators with incomplete data about its affairs and employees, and we question whether it is withholding information about the identities, crimes, and whereabouts of accused employees. Instead of passively waiting for criminal investigations to run their course, the Church should be actively working to assist in every way. Church officials should be reaching out to current and former employees for any information and calling upon parishioners to come forward with any knowledge about alleged crimes.

Why: Less than one in eight reported cases of clergy sexual abuse are being investigated because the diocese has provided "very incomplete" information about its affairs and employees. We see no evidence that Swiss Catholic officials have taken other steps to locate alleged offenders. Victims should not have to be the driving force behind an investigation, and vulnerable children and adults should not be placed at risk while church officials passively wait for investigations to run their course.

How to complete Act 17: Comment on the Swiss article - Sex abuse by priests little pursued: report

As you plan what you want to say, consider these key points:

Stress that Swiss Catholic officials should spare no expense to locate alleged offenders, instead of offering incomplete information and waiting for investigations to run their course.
Emphasize that if sexual offenders are not located and removed from parishes, it is highly likely that they will abuse more children and adults.
Encourage anyone who has experienced, witnessed, or has information about sexual abuse in the Swiss Catholic Church to report to the police.

Or copy and paste the statement of support below:

"If Swiss Catholic officials do not do everything in their power to assist in locating alleged offenders, it is highly likely that more children and adults will become victims of sexual abuse. Church officials should not sit back and offer incomplete information while investigations ride on victim testimonies. They should reach out to employees and parishioners and encourage them to speak out. Now more than ever, it is imperative that anyone who has experienced, witnessed, or has information about sexual crimes in the Swiss Catholic Church to report to police so that further abuse might be prevented!"

When: Please take action by next Friday, June 12.

Wait - you're not finished yet! Once you've completed the action, in order to get credit for this Act, you must do two things:

1) Check the box below that says "I Completed Act 17."

2) Show the team what you did! Copy and paste your comment into the blue section below marked COMMENTS.

And let us know if you have questions - we're here to help! Email us at [email protected] with questions or concerns.

Remember – your voice counts! When we expose the lies, we stand up for victims and take power away from the abusers. When we all speak out together, we create a movement that the world cannot ignore.

So let’s SNAP into action!

SNAP Action Team

[email protected]

Will you volunteer?

Like this to spread the word:
Sign in if you'd like new recruits to be credited to you.

Showing 8 comments

George and Jean Barilla commented 2015-06-01 17:14:51 -0500
I couldn’t complete Action 17 because the news media carrying the article shut down the comment section — too soon I think. Here is what I wanted to say:

I question the integrity of the church in responsibly reporting cases of clergy sexual abuse. The Catholic Church has a long and friendly relationship with Switzerland — especially since the Pope’s soldiers that guard him come from Switzerland. The Church is going to “passively” wait until all survivors are dead or give up. They have displayed the same behavior many times before. It is the survivors and their supporters who have to keep pressing the issues.
Jean Barilla
Barbra Graber commented 2015-05-29 19:10:15 -0500
Swiss Catholic officials should spare no expense to locate alleged offenders, instead of offering incomplete information and waiting for investigations to run their course.

If sexual offenders are not located and removed from parishes, it is highly likely that they will abuse more children and adults.

Anyone who has experienced, witnessed, or has information about sexual abuse in the Swiss Catholic Church should report immediately to the police.

The crimes of sexual abuse will no longer be tolerated and must not go unpunished.
Jackie Regan commented 2015-05-29 14:43:57 -0500
The devastation that shatters a child’s life when a trusted adult betrayed them is incomprehensible to those who have not had this experience. Robbing a child of their innocence and their potential is a heinous crime, but not helping gain justice for the innocent is just as heinous. The Swiss Catholic officials’ shameful acts of covering up the abuse make them as guilty as those who have committed the crimes. It is their obligation to do everything possible to find the offenders and bring them to justice. We, as Catholics, do not stand for the exploitation of the innocent and those who represent us must act swiftly and aggressively. As a survivor myself, I urge anyone who has any information to come forward and help bring justice to the innocent.
Frank Meuers followed this page 2015-05-29 14:19:34 -0500
Action Team Leader published this page in Action Team 2015-05-29 10:20:58 -0500
Timothy Lennon commented 2015-05-28 18:26:44 -0500
The Church must do more. They must act aggressively to fully cooperate with police and court officials. This includes opening the files, ending the coverups and locating the accused child sex molester.
Church officials cannot wash their hands and give up. Predators will abuse for decades and abuse hundreds of children. Children, minors and vulnerable adults are at risk.
If you know of child sex crimes or have a reasonable suspicion report it to the police.
Kate Bochte commented 2015-05-28 16:57:55 -0500
Bravo to the courageous victims/survivors who are cooperating with prosecutors and civil investigations. Shame on the Roman Catholic Church for continuing to hide information – and sex offenders – from law enforcement officials and civil investigative bodies. When is an institution no longer allowed to fraudulently use the term “church” to describe itself?
Eileen Springer commented 2015-05-28 16:32:31 -0500
Swiss Catholic officials must do everything in their power to assist in locating alleged offenders. Unless, the Church officials themselves take action, it is highly likely that more children and adults will become victims of sexual abuse.

Church officials should not sit back passively and offer incomplete information, leaving the investigation to play out with victims as the lone voice. The Church can and should reach out to employees and parishioners and encourage them to speak out now and provide information that may assist in the investigation. Now more than ever, it is a moral imperative that anyone who has experienced, witnessed, or has information about sexual crimes in the Swiss Catholic Church to report to police so that further abuse might be prevented!