Media Statements

For immediate release Thursday, March 30, 2017 

Statement by Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003, [email protected]

While we are grateful that Savannah Bishop Gregory Hartmayer has apologized for pain caused by clergy who allegedly sexually assaulted children, we are concerned that the bishop’s words do not match his actions.

http://wsav.com/2017/03/29/bishop-apologizes-to-sexual-abuse-victims-in-special-service/      

Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected]

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ramos-746682-orange-lawsuit.html

Child sexual abuse affects far more than the victim. Sexual abuse affects families, communities, and generations of children. Yes, Fr. Eleuterio Ramos is dead, but the pain of his alleged abuse lives on in his alleged victims and the people who love those victims.

For immediate release Monday, March 13, 2017

Statement by Barbara Dorris, SNAP, 314-503-0003 [email protected] 

Tom Curley and Gary Schultz both plead guilty to mishandling child sex allegations against Jerry Sandusky. We hope this brings some comfort to those abused by Sandusky. Many times children are needlessly placed at risk not just because they happen to be near a predator but because adults who knew or should have known the danger failed to act.

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2017/03/13/2-penn-state-ex-administrators-plead-guilty-in-jerry-sandusky-abuse-case.html  

Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected]

Bishop Wall’s primary job as the Bishop of Gallup is leading his flock, holding Masses, and healing souls—not attending conferences and fundraisers. Why is he not doing his primary job for the people who need him the most?

Wall seems to be very good at honoring obligations that make him look good. However, with this latest announcement, we see that he is NOT very good at honoring obligations that don’t make him look good: non-monetary agreements in a years-long bankruptcy battle, promises to update the list of 31 credibly accused abusers, and simple actions to help the healing of survivors of sexual abuse.

Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected] 

For immediate release Monday, March 6, 2017

Statement by Judy Jones, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 974 5003,[email protected])

We are grateful that Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Altoona-Johnstown diocese is making changes. We agree with him the “one case of abuse is too many.” This is a small step forward but the grand jury report came out over a year ago and we are still only seeing words and promises we are not seeing any actions that make children safer today than they were a year ago.

http://wjactv.com/news/local/diocese-of-altoona-johnstown-details-sweeping-changes-for-child-sex-abuse   

For immediate release: Thursday, March 2, 2017

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, [email protected])

Once again the Pennsylvania state legislature is considering lifting the civil statute of limitations (SOL) for child sexual abuse. Once again the debate is whether or not the SOL should be removed retroactively.

For immediate release, March 2, 2017

Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Director, (949) 322-7434, [email protected]

In 1977, Roman Polanski was arrested on charges of drugging a raping a 13-year-old girl when he was 44. In 1978, he took a plea bargain to avoid a lengthy jail sentence. Soon after, he fled the country. Since then, members of the Hollywood elite have defended his actions by blaming the victim, calling her names, and praising Polanski’s “artistry” as a director.

But the fact remains: he pled guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a child—a child who should have been memorizing vocabulary words in middle school, not recovering from rape and character assassination by a powerful middle-aged millionaire.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/roman-polanski-should-face-us-justice-for-1977-rape-los-angeles-da-says/ar-AAnGYHu?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=UP97DHP

For immediate release: Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, [email protected])

We share Marie Collins’ justifiable frustration with the “shameful resistance” of Vatican officials to changes in procedures that would protect children. Instead, of implementing changes that would have a direct effect on curtailing the abuse crisis, the Curia continues to set up roadblocks.