Clergy sex victims demonstrate outside Vatican Embassy

His Good Friday comments offend Jews & victims

Top Vatican official compares papal scrutiny with actual violence

“Hurtful words” intimidate and guilt-trip victims and witnesses into keeping quiet

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at sidewalk news conferences, clergy sex abuse victims will strongly react to Good Friday comments by a top Vatican official that conflates real, horrific violence against millions of Jews with allegedly ‘tough’ scrutiny of a few Catholic figures.

They will urge the Pope to
-- publicly apologize for the remarks,
-- publicly discipline the cleric, and
-- publicly, specifically and emphatically beg anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoers, protect others and start healing.

WHEN
Saturday, April 3, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE
Outside the Vatican embassy, 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW in Washington DC

WHO
Five-six clergy sex abuse victims who are leaders of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) and several concerned Catholics

WHY
Victims, and others, are outraged that a top Vatican official portrayed the Pope as basically a victim of an unfair attack, like persecuted Jews.

In a Good Friday sermon, Msgr. Raniero Cantalamessa, “who holds the office of preacher of the papal household,” essentially compared the plight of the Pope to those who have suffered from anti-Semitism. His comments set off a firestorm of protest.

The Pope sat silently and listened. Hours later, one Vatican spokesman tried to distance himself and the Pope from the remarks.

As Pope, Benedict has several times recently paid lip service to “transparency” in clergy child sex cases. In light of his words, and recent disclosures of abuse and cover up in his home diocese of Munich, SNAP wants the pontiff to publicly disclosed how he handled thousands of cases from across the globe from 2001-2005 as head of CDF, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (and some in earlier years too).

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iJSS2_d9ujivbC3DlvZCioRJZIAA

CONTACT
Dave Lorenz 301 906 9161 c, 301 262 6517
Becky Ianni, [email protected], 703 801 6044
David Clohessy, [email protected], 314 566 9790
Barbara Blaine, [email protected], 312 399 4747
Barbara Dorris, [email protected], 314 503 0003