PA - Group praises Philly victim's parents for speaking up
For immediate release: Wednesday October 23, 2013
Statement by Barbara Blaine of SNAP, 312 399 4747, [email protected]
We applaud this victim’s brave family for speaking up and hope their courage prods others who are suffering in silence to step forward.
It’s tough for anyone to talk about child sex crimes. It must be especially tough doing that when you have just lost a child because of the horror of such crimes. Still, it is clear that this family has chosen to step forward in the hopes of saving kids who might be abused in the future and in the hopes of helping adults who have been abused in the past.
They should be praised for taking this difficult but responsible and caring step.
Why aren’t Archbishop Charles Chaput and other catholic officials joining this grieving family in begging others who saw suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups to step forward? Why does Chaput continue to hide behind his expensive defense lawyers and shrewd public relations professionals? Why won’t he act like a true shepherd and personally go to every parish where Fr. Brennan worked, strongly urge those with suspicions or knowledge of the allegations against Fr. Brennan to pick up the phone and call 911?
Please, if you were hurt, let his brave family’s compassion move you to break your silence and get help. If you might be able to share even a scintilla of information about clergy sexual misdeeds - however slight, old or seemingly insignificant it might be – with law enforcement, please act with generosity and courage now, so that others might be spared decades of pain.
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
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“Where is the statement from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its leadership regarding the unfortunate and heart-breaking passing of this young man, who suffered a lifetime of torment as a result of sexual abuse?
His family has spoken out today in the midst of their grief and suffering. When will our Catholic religious leaders do the same if only to express their condolences and prayers to the victim and his family?"
Michael Skiendzielewski
Captain (Retired)
Philadelphia Police Dept.