Rome--Pope must correct & denounce Cardinal Burke
For immediate release: Wednesday, Jan. 7
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected] )
A controversial cardinal “blames gay clergy for the church’s sexual abuse crisis,” and says priests “who were feminized and confused about their own sexual identity” molested children.
The church becomes a more dangerous and unhealthy place when high-ranking Catholic officials mischaracterize and minimize the abuse and cover up crisis. That’s why it’s crucial that Francis and other top church staff denounce and clarify Cardinal Raymond Burke’s outrageous claim.
If one must identify only one crux of the crisis, it is the widespread and continuing cover ups by bishops, - not the crimes or motives of individual priests - that should be cited. To focus strictly on the “bad apple” child molesting clerics - and ignore the devastating role of selfish and secretive bishops – is irresponsible.
In the eyes of many, Burke is a discredited, demoted fanatic. Still, he remains a cardinal and a Vatican official with millions of admirers. His words hurt victims and confuse parishioners. They should not stand unaddressed. It’s callous of Catholic officials do nothing when their colleagues make hurtful comments that make victims, witnesses and whistleblowers become hopeless and stay silent.
We beg Pope Francis to set the record straight here.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We were founded in 1988 and have 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 +1 314-566-9790, [email protected], Barbara Dorris +1 314-503-0003, [email protected], Barbara Blaine +1 312-399-4747, [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
Showing 7 comments
If any of you look in the mirror and are satisfied with what you see, you are what you criticize !
IF you know what the Will of GOD is for you, you will try to improve on wht you saw. Tim
Yours sincerely, Iain Douglas Pattison (also the Third Coming of Seth)
There has been a Pope continuously since just before Jesus Christ, Our Saviour ascended into Heaven, a place I guess you do not know about or to which you do not wish to aspire!
Facebook or twit-er sounds more your speed. Tim