Vatican- Pope seeks forgiveness: victims respond

For immediate release Friday, April 11, 2014

Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)

We beg the world’s Catholics: be impressed by deeds, not words. Until the Pope takes decisive action that protects kids be skeptical and vigilant. 

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pope-francis-asks-forgiveness-priests-who-molested-children-1444416 

This may be the first time a Pope has talked of sanctions against complicit bishops. But that is all it is: talk. (and if this ever happens, many, many tangible steps to safeguard children in the church must be taken)

On church governess, church finances, and simple living, he acts. On the rape of children he talks. 

(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])   


Showing 5 comments

  • Edward Sheehan
    commented 2014-04-11 22:52:16 -0500
    If you want to apologize, do so through actions which will open way to forgiveness. The lies have been through words and actions, it will take the clearing out of all of the accused and those associated with cover ups before I could even consider working on my own forgiveness issues from the abuse I personally have been put through,then the lies and cover ups going all the way up the chain. Have these soulless creatures no brains? Obviously, no compassion, no heart either.
  • Lani Halter
    commented 2014-04-11 21:52:41 -0500
    I am copying my comments to Mr. Clohessy that I have written tonight, here for you as well, Mrs. Dorris:
    Thirdly, Mr. Clohessy, I beg of you to please submit this exact same post you have so passionately and articulately written, to ALL MEDIA OUTLETS, tonight. Send it to all the US network news channels, API, Reuters, the BBC; the media in Ireland and Australia and everywhere there is a reputable news network. Please don’t abandone your struggle and fight here and now. As you have pointed out, the pope is a global leader and these crimes are being committed non-stop, round the clock, globally. Please tell Mrs. Blaine and Mrs. Dorris, that NOW IS THE TIME TO RESPOND TO THE POPE’S DUPLICITIOUS REQUEST FOR FORGIVENESS. IT IS the time, FOR ALL CATHOLICS AND INTERESTED, DECENT PEOPLE TO HEAR AND KNOW THAT THERE IS no excuse FOR ANY OF THESE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY TO CONTINUE UNSTOPPED IN the catholic church. NO EXCUSE! Please make your voices HEARD NOW. MAKE THEM HEARD BEYOND THE WEBSITE OF SNAP. MAKE THE VATICAN hear and know.
    Lani Halter commented 17 mins ago
    If I had the opportunity to say more than a simple “No.” in response (directly) to the pope on the subject of his request for forgiveness for the clergy who committed the heinous pedophile crimes against catholic humanity and these bishops and popes who abetted them and enabled them to continue drugging, raping and sodomizinig and raping innocent children and disabled adults allegedly in the name of God, I would tell him to re-read the words of Christ as recorded in: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2. I will type Matthew 18:6, here: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
    Not even Christ, through the Holy Spirit, nor God himself tells us to forgive these particular pedophile criminal perpetrators, enablers and conspirators. No.
    Lani Halter commented 36 mins ago
    My response to the pope’s request, is: No.
  • Edward Sheehan
    commented 2014-04-11 18:15:59 -0500
    Another PR stunt to feed to the gullible so they can sleep at night, while victims and their families are still climbing up the walls from the deception and lack of resolve.
  • A.j. Baselice
    commented 2014-04-11 13:55:37 -0500
    Sure, when Jesus forgives judas, the Jews forgive hitler, and the Vietnam Vets for give that low life POS jane fonda !
  • @ tweeted this page. 2014-04-11 09:08:50 -0500

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