PA--Penn State Abuse Scandal Costs Approach a Quarter-Billion, victims respond
For immediate release, January 10, 2017
Statement by Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
Penn State officials could have done one simple thing to save a quarter billion dollars and dozens of young innocent lives: call the police when they saw or suspected abuse.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2017/01/10/438436.htm
No institution, no building, no football program, and no storied coach is more important than the life and innocence of one child. Unfortunately, the only way that our system can “punish” Penn State University is through large civil settlements, fines, and costs. Only a fraction of the adults involved in the conspiracy to cover-up Jerry Sandusky’s crimes will be criminally charged.
The best way to stop sex abuse scandals is not by raising fines. It’s by being vigilant. It’s by picking up the phone when you see or suspect abuse. We do not question calling the police when we see someone waving a gun. Therefore, we should never question calling the authorities when we see a child sex crime in progress.
If you see, suspect, or have suffered abuse, call law enforcement. Get help. It is safe.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. 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 in all institutional settings, including churches, schools, clubs, and homes. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix , 949-322-7434[email protected]