Child sex victims appeal to parents

"Help push for legislative reforms," they urge

Violated as a boy by a priest, he's now an advocate

"But we've got to make it easier to expose predators," he says

New Confidential Support Group being formed here

WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will
-- announce a new support group for those abused by religious figures
-- urge Virginia parents to prod lawmakers to reform state abuse laws
-- beg anyone who saw, suspected, or suffered child sex crimes to come forward and get help

WHEN
Tuesday Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m.

WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Roanoke County Courthouse at the corner of Church Ave and 3rd Street (315 Church Ave) in Roanoke, VA

WHO
Two clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Vinton man who is the organization’s Southwest Virginia Director.

WHY
Yesterday, the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee considered Senate Bill 1145. This bill would extend the civil statute of limitations for victims of childhood sex abuse from 2 to 20 years.

The Current state law gives victims of child sex crimes just two years from the time they reach 18 to expose their predators in civil courts. Victims of childhood sexual abuse suffer for their entire lives but often are unable to speak of their abuse until middle age or later.

SNAP believes that the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse should be eliminated altogether. Extending the statute of limitations will help protect children by exposing more sexual predators and their enablers. It will help deter those who commit and conceal child sex crimes.

When California enacted similar legislation in 2002, more than 300 previously undetected predators were publicly exposed.

SNAP wants the citizens of Virginia to contact their legislators and urge them to support this important legislation.

Mark McAllister plans to announce a new local self-help group for those victimized by religious figures and will urge anyone suffering to come forward and find support.

CONTACT:
Mark McAllister 540-520-8674 , [email protected] , Becky Ianni , 703-801-6044, [email protected], David Clohessy 314-566-9790 , [email protected]), Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, [email protected])