Stunning report on crimes at mission is released

It says dozens of kids were abused at boarding school

20 offenders were with Orlando-based ‘missionary society’

Christian organization still runs schools across the world today

Victims: “We’re concerned about kids being hurt now & those already hurt”

Self help organization begs others who were hurt in mission schools to speak up

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will discuss and provide copies of a new, previously-undisclosed 68 investigative report documenting sexual and physical abuse of dozens kids by at least 20 staff at a boarding school in Africa run by an international Orlando-based missionary group, They will also urge
-- church officials to immediately implement 8-9 recommendations contained in the report, and
-- anyone who saw, suspected or suffered crimes in similar settings to come forward, get help, protect kids and expose wrongdoers.

WHEN
TODAY, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE
Outside the main city police station, 100 South Hughey Avenue (between W Central Blvd. & W Church St.) in downtown Orlando FL - http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/administration/contact_us.htm

WHO
Three-four clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Seattle WA woman who was victimized at the overseas mission school and whose website has become a depository of information about the scandal

WHY
In the 1980s and 1990s, at a Christian boarding school in Senegal, “child abuse was widespread and routine” and “much of this behavior was criminal.” These are among the stunning conclusions found in a hard-hitting, never-before-released 68 page investigative report.

The scandal involves the Sanford FL-based New Tribes Mission (NTM) which claims 3,300 “missionaries” across the globe, making it the second largest Christian missionary organization in the world. (http://www.ntm.org/)

The report, prompted by increasing complaints from victims, was compiled over the course of a year by a five-person team. It identifies, by name, 20 wrongdoers, both those who committed and/or ignored and concealed abuse. The document contains multiple recommendations for action, including the creation of a “perpetual” $1 million fund for victims. It also urges that 8eight “negligent” staff be forced to donate 10% of their salary to the fund and that 17 staff be “terminated from membership.” (At least one offender still works for NTM now in its Florida headquarters.)

A copy of the report is available on a website run by victims: http://fandaeagles.com/2010/08/grace-final-report-on-ntm-fanda/ OR at http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2010_08_28_GRACE_Fanda_Report.pdf

The disclosures are similar to ones that erupted in the 1990s involving abuse at an evangelical boarding school in West Africa called the Mamou Academy which was run by a Colorado Springs-based group called the Christian and Missionary Alliance. A 2009 documentary film called “All God’s Children” brought renewed attention to the scandal.

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/05_06/2010_05_18_Briggs_SexualAbuse.htm

CONTACT
David Clohessy of SNAP 314 566 9790, [email protected],
Kari Mikitson (victim from African school) 312 505 0160, [email protected]
Martha Jean Lorenzo of SNAP, 727-512-1689 cell, 813-879-6290 home, [email protected]