Australia--Victims respond to Cardinal Pell’s abuse denial
For immediate release: Monday, February 22
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, national president member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747)
The third highest ranking Catholic official on earth is accused of molesting five to ten boys.
From the Daily Mail: “As police consider travelling to Rome to question Cardinal George Pell over the child sex abuse allegations, Australia's top Catholic has been seen strolling along the streets in the early spring sunshine.
From the Herald Sun: The allegations “are being taken seriously enough by police to justify a year-long investigation.”
From the Telegraph: “A source close to the investigation told the newspaper: ‘They are very serious allegations regarding sexual assault.’”
Pell questions the timing of this news. We’re not sympathetic. What matters most is the truth, not the timing.
Pell claims these “leaks” are “clearly designed to do maximum damage to the cardinal and the Catholic Church.” This is silly. If Pell doesn’t know who made the “leak,” he certainly can’t know their motives. And he’s an individual. The church is an institution. A criminal investigation into a person isn’t necessarily “designed to do maximum damage” to that person’s employer.
Pell claims the recent disclosure also “undermines the work of the Royal Commission."
Again, that’s silly. The more information that surfaces about clergy sex crimes and cover ups, the better.
We might be more sympathetic to Pell’s concerns had not Catholic officials so relentlessly and often so viciously attacked the motives and timing of thousands who reported and exposed heinous child sex crimes and cover ups.
We have urged Francis to suspend Pell. Today, we repeat this plea. That’s the only responsible course of action here. Remember: He faces at least five accusers. Those accusers have talked with police. Apparently, the police have not deemed all of them crazy or lying.
Some might ask “With his position and this publicity, won’t Pell be extremely unlikely to abuse someone now?” Our response: Why take more risks, especially with kids’ safety? We’ve all seen criminals do desperate, destructive and self-destructive things when they feel desperate.
Some might say “Most of the allegations date back some years.” Our response: “One allegation is from 2001. And there’s no magic age at which abusers are suddenly “cured.”
So for the safety of kids, we again urge Francis to suspend Pell. And we urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes or cover ups by Pell to call police, especially in Victoria.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [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
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