Vatican--Remaining survivor on papal panel resigns; SNAP responds

For immediate release: Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, East Bay Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175[email protected])

We share Marie Collins’ justifiable frustration with the “shameful resistance” of Vatican officials to changes in procedures that would protect children. Instead, of implementing changes that would have a direct effect on curtailing the abuse crisis, the Curia continues to set up roadblocks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sex-abuse-survivor-quits-popes-commission-citing-shameful-resistance_us_58b6d26fe4b0a8a9b787bdf4?

While we admire Ms. Collins’ generous offer to continue to work with the Vatican to educate Church leaders on abuse, we believe that the clear answer to eradicating this crisis remains outside of the Church hierarchy.  Victims, witnesses and whistle blowers need to continue speaking out publicly, and police, prosecutors and secular authorities need to continue holding Church officials accountable for both criminal conduct and for the cover up of those crimes. 

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. 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 – Melanie Jula Sakoda (925-708-6175[email protected]), Mary Ellen Kruger (314-962-0964[email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003[email protected])

SNAP Network is a GuideStar Gold Participant