Vatican claims UN panel “gave more credence to NGOs” over church officials, SNAP responds

February 07, 2014

For immediate release: Friday, February 07, 2014

Statement by Peter Isely of Milwaukee, board member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (414-429-7259, [email protected])

Papal spokesman claims UN panel “gave more credence to NGOs” over church officials. This is simply not true.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/vatican-hits-back-un-committee-abuse-report

The UN panel gave credence to decades of well documented horrific crimes and cover ups. Catholic officials can’t spin or promise their way out of the crisis. Catholic officials should not be surprised when well educated objective adults judge them on consistent self serving actions, and not on professed intentions to do better in the future.

The Vatican’s belligerence is deeply disappointing. Listening and learning, not ducking and dodging, can help protect children. People should ask themselves “who do I believe an impressive impartial panel of experts with an unblemished track record, or a handful of powerful complicit clerics with an extraordinarily blemished track record?”

Pope Francis should instruct prelates to call off attack dogs and study the full UN panel report and start taking tangible abuse prevention steps. This is the only way the church hierarchy will be able to start safeguarding children and restoring its justifiably tattered reputation.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[email protected]), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected])

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Showing 4 comments

Glo Ramsay commented 2014-02-09 20:53:15 -0600
Lani, you are right, The trauma of this heinous sexual, physical, emotional psychological and ultimately spiritual abuse committed by those claiming to be Christ ‘s representatives on earth, has caused irreversible harm to thousands upon thousands of us victims, our spouses, our families, our parents, some who have died carrying the guilt of failing to keep their child safe, questioning how could they have been so blind as to not see what was happening. So many children have been raised by broken parents who carry within the deep wounds of abuse of not just of our bodies, but of our minds, our dignity, our very being. Many of us carried the burden of shame for years with wounded and betrayed hearts and the darkness that can fill ones soul at times robs us of the ability to be naturally spontaneous, full of joy and laughter. I believed lies about who I was. I was not the evil, dirty child that would burn in hell that my abuser convinced me that I was. I was a vulnerable little girl of 7 years of age wanting to receive Jesus into my life through holy communion, but instead the man who was like God, hurt, betrayed, terrified and intimidated me. Unless courage and justice is able to break this cycle once and for all, this will continue and affect the next generation and the next and the next…… That’s why SNAP is such a vital force and thank you to those of you who have not backed down, for not given up this fight for justice, seeking acknowledgment of the whole truth, full accountability, full restitution, vindication for all victims, and preventative education for the future along with compulsory pastoral care, support, supervision and continuing personal development including development of morals, and basic human values for clergy which has been shamefully lacking.
Lani Halter commented 2014-02-08 12:18:38 -0600
Yes, I agree, Mr. Isely’s written response published here, is “awesome”. However, I am again coming to realize that no amount of logic, nor appeals to common sense or innate decency will work with already ensconced, catholic pedophiles who cannot “afford” to look at the truth of their depravity.

I think that no matter what any of us say in response to their comments, that these particular pedophiles will continue in their lies and personal attacks because so far, this modus aparendi has “worked” for them.

I do however, believe that they now know, and they now realize that WHEN they actually are brought to justice, that many of them may very well be sentenced to death. And, rightly so!

I BELIEVE THAT NOW, THE TIME IS RIPE, WE MUST BE VIGILENT IN OUR PRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE TO THE ICC AND OUR REQUEST FOR THEM TO BRING THE SNAP AND CCR LAWSUIT TO THE COURT. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY, BEFORE THOUSANDS AND POTENTIALLY MILLIONS MORE OF THUS-ABUSED CHILDREN AND DISABLED ADULTS DIE OR FEEL FORCED TO COMMIT MURDER, THEMSELVES.
Glo Ramsay commented 2014-02-08 03:14:45 -0600
Another awesome response! You are so right about calling off the attack dogs and to start taking tangible abuse prevention steps among the many other changes needed. Every response that is made comes with an attack, or an excuse, a denial, or it’s not fair, or various other distract or blame framework. The church needs to come out of the darkness where fear dominates every response , and embrace Truth in the light with Love and all her gifts.
@ tweeted this page. 2014-02-07 08:54:55 -0600
Vatican claims UN panel “gave more credence to NGOs” over church officials, SNAP responds http://www.snapnetwork.org/vatican_claims_un_panel_gave_more_credence_to_ngos_over_church_officials_snap_responds?recruiter_id=21019
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