December 22, 2005

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis
(314) 566-9790 cell
National Director of SNAP

Once again, a high ranking church official uses legal technicalities to escape responsibility for horrific child sex crimes, instead of squarely facing an abuse case. In court, Catholic leaders continue to act like cold-hearted CEOs instead of compassionate shepherds.

Virtually no pressures or pleas seem to persuade the church hierarchy to work harder to protect the vulnerable or heal the wounded. So we applaud more resourceful or creative means of prodding Catholic officials to do what's right.

These kinds of legal maneuvers rub salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of thousands of victims and their families. They also obscure the truth and delay the healing that Catholics desperately need and deserve.

CONTACT:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director (314) 566-9790 cell
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP Founder and President (312) 399 4747 cell
Mark Serrano of Leasburg VA, SNAP Board Member (703) 727 4940 cell
Mary Grant of Long Beach CA, SNAP Board Member (626) 419 2930
Terrie Light of Hayward CA, SNAP Board Member (510) 517 3338 cell
Peter Isely of Milwaukee, SNAP Board Member (414) 429 7259 cell, (414) 963 8617