Survivors Respond: Cardinal McCarrick removed from ministry for allegation of sexual abuse
For immediate release, June 20, 2018, Tim Lennon, President, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), [email protected], 415-312-5820
The former Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, has been removed from ministry in response to allegations he sexually abused a teen.
Cardinal McCarrick is well known to survivors as a person who protected the church hierarchy at the cost of children and minors. He lobbied against reforming the restrictive Statute of Limitation laws, opposed having priests report sexual abuse of children to the police, and criticized victims who delayed reporting because memories of their horrific trauma was repressed.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/legislation/McCarrick_decries_MD.htm
http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2006_statements/051606_resignation_cardinal_mccarrick.htm
http://www.snapnetwork.org/survivors_voice/serrano_church_unlikely.htm
Sadly and tragically many victims of child sex abuse bury horrifying memories for years and decades, yet Church officials consistently oppose changing the Statutes of Limitation.
And shame on New Jersey Catholic officials who knew about but kept secret allegations that Cardinal McCarrick sexually assaulted adults and that settlements were paid out as a result. Vulnerable adults suffering from emotional distress and turmoil and seeking counsel from a trusted spiritual advisor can suffer serious harm when the clergyman violates professional boundaries.
https://diometuchen.org/news/show/statement-of-the-most-reverend-james-f-checchio-jcl-mba
The hierarchy needs to take action, not just wring their hands and accept resignations. They need to open the books, name all the clergy who have been convicted, admitted guilt or been credibly accused of sex crimes against children, minors, and vulnerable adults.
We encourage all who have been sexually abused to report to the police. It is never too late for abuse survivors to speak up, get justice, and expose wrongdoers.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]), Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, [email protected]), Melanie Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected])
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