As Pope Francis calls for “reflection,” SNAP calls for civil action

As Pope Francis calls for “reflection,” SNAP calls for civil action
SNAP Leaders and advocates will call on the Maryland General Assembly to finally eliminate the Statute of Limitations for Child Abuse
They demand that the Catholic Dioceses of Maryland ‘do whatever it takes to help survivors’ by supporting this legislation

WHAT: 

Leaders and survivors from the Maryland chapter of the nation’s oldest and largest advocacy group for victims of clergy and institutional sex abuse, SNAP, along with advocates and Catholic organizations, will request that the Maryland General Assembly finally eliminate the SOL for Child abuse. 

WHEN: 

Thursday February 28th at noon

WHERE: 

Lawyers Mall – Corner of Bladen Street & College Ave.  Annapolis, MD

WHO: 

Several members of SNAP, including, David Lorenz, Maryland SNAP leader, Judy Lorenz, SNAP family support leader, Susan Kerin , member of Catholics for Action and several survivors and supporters.

WHY: 

For the past 14 years, survivors have been trying to eliminate the SOL for child sexual abuse. The change has been supported by any number of child advocacy groups but has been opposed by primarily one group – the Maryland Catholic Conference. After recent revelations about Cardinal McCarrick being an abuser himself and Cardinal Wuerl and Cardinal Keeler being implicated in cover ups in Pennsylvania, it is time for lawmakers to ignore the desires of known perpetrators and protectors and instead protect the children of Maryland.

Eliminating the SOL will give any child who suffers sex abuse all the time necessary to come forward.  The lookback window will provide two things. First it will give survivors an opportunity for their day in court, having been barred from the justice system because they were too ashamed or too afraid to come forward within this archaically short period of time. Second, civil suits will help expose perpetrators which will lead to more victims coming forward leading to possible criminal charges. This will help parents keep their children from interaction with known abusers.

CONTACT: David Lorenz, Maryland SNAP director ([email protected] 301-906-9161) Judy Lorenz, SNAP Family Support ([email protected] 301-633-2823) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009) 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)