« April 09, 2005 | Main | April 13, 2005 »
April 10, 2005
Sex Abuse Victims To Leaflet Outside Mass in Rome
April 10, 2005 [SNAP Press Release]
MEDIA ADVISORY ABOUT SNAP ACTIVITIES IN ROME
Sex Abuse Victims To Leaflet Outside Mass in Rome
US-Based Group Upset About Cardinal Law's Prominent Role
They Urge Cardinals To Speak Up For Victims
More SNAP Members Will Head To Vatican Later This Week
WHAT:
At a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation victims will hold a news conference and
-- publicly urge Catholic Cardinals to insist that Cardinal Bernard Law be replaced in all services for the Pope,
-- speak out against the Vatican's hurtful decision to give Law high profile honors during a time when wounded Catholics are trying to focus on the Pope's life and death, and
-- urge anyone who was sexually assaulted by clergy to come forward and get help.
The victims are upset that church leaders stand silently by while Vatican officials rub salt into the wounds of already suffering victims and their families by giving Law such honors.
WHEN:
TODAY, Monday, April 11, 3:00 p.m. (Rome time)
WHERE:
Just outside the entrance to St. Peter's Square in Rome
WHO:
Two US women who were sexually molested by priests and are leaders of the largest American support group for sexual abuse victims - SNAP - the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a Chicago-based self-help organization of 5,000+ members
WHY:
Vatican officials have chosen, and Cardinals have apparently approved, ousted U.S. Cardinal Bernard Law to lead a special mass this evening, Monday, April 11th, in Rome to mourn the Pope's death. Law resigned as Boston's Cardinal in 2002 and was sent to Rome to live after being exposed for covering up thousands of sex crimes by his clergy in Boston.
SNAP members are upset that church officials essentially ratified Law's actions by allowing him this position of honor and prominence. Law publicly rubs salt into the wounds of thousands of victims and Catholics.
Despite horrific sex crimes and cover ups by Catholic clergy, many victims and troubled Catholics have held onto their faith and are sad about the pope's passing. They deserve a chance to focus on Pope's life and mourn his passing without the horrific distraction Law has become.
The group believes that Law's prominence in Rome is bringing more pain to already suffering victims and more sadness to already embarrassed Catholics. The group wants American Cardinals and other bishops to find the courage to break the code of silence in their church hierarchy, speak out on behalf of children raped in the church, and insist that Law be replaced and/or given no such honors in the future.
SNAP also plans to try and speak with Vatican officials this week in Rome and stress that the next Pope should be more pro-active, effective and compassionate in dealing with the world-wide sex abuse crisis.
SNAP is the USA's largest support group for people victimized by clergy.
CONTACT:
In Rome:
Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP founder and president (in Rome) 312 399 4747
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP outreach director (Grand Hotel Tiberio at Via Lattanzio 51)
In the US:
David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP national director (314) 566 9790 cell
Mark Serrano of Washington DC, SNAP national board member (571) 223 0042 work
Peter Isely of Milwaukee, SNAP national board member (414) 429 7259 cell
Mary Grant of Long Beach CA, SNAP western regional director (626) 419 2930
Mary Guentner of Milwaukee, SNAP Wisconsin coordinator (414) 418 3191 cell
Posted by Nancy at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
SNAP's Leaflet for Cardinal Law's Mass
WHO ARE WE?
We are men and women who were sexually abused by Catholic clergy and are trying to recover from the trauma and prevent others from being hurt. We belong to SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a confidential, independent support group for victims.
WHY ARE WE HERE?
Catholics across the globe deserve the opportunity to reflect on the life of and mourn the passing of John Paul II without the embarrassing, painful site of Cardinal Law, the "poster child" of complicit bishops.
Clergy sex abuse victims and their loved ones (especially the hundreds in the Boston Archdiocese) deserve to heal from their deep wounds without seeing Cardinal Bernard Law in a high profile position of honor and prominence in Rome.
We are deeply concerned about Law's hurtful actions. On Monday, the disgraced ex-head of the Boston Archdiocese will lead a special mass in honor of the deceased Pope.
At best, this is insensitive, at a time when millions of Catholics are trying to focus on the Pope's life and death. At worst, it rubs salt into already very deep wounds of caring Catholics and suffering victims.
We have formally asked the American Cardinals to intervene with Vatican officials to stop Law's involvement. We encourage Cardinals to find the courage to break the code of silence in their church hierarchy, speak out on behalf of children raped in the church, and insist that Law be replaced.
(If you are not familiar with Cardinal Law's cover up of cleregy sex crimes, please see http://www.boston.com/globe/spotlight/abuse/extras/coverups_archive.htm )
Please know that Massachusetts' top law enforcement official, the Attorney General, has said:
Cardinal Law bears "ultimate responsibility" for the "staggering" child sex abuse scandal.
The scandal is "due to an institutional acceptance of abuse and a massive and pervasive failure of leadership" by Cardinal Law. (Nearly 250 priests in his archdiocese stand accused of sex crimes.)
"The church cared more about itself than it did about kids.")
WHAT DO WE WANT?
--- Cardinal Law should step aside at this solemn moment and allow Catholics to grieve the loss of the Holy Father without the embarrassing, painful site of Cardinal Law, the "poster child" of complicit bishops.
--- Cardinals and bishops across the world should try and stop Cardinal Law's insensitive actions, or at least publicly speak out on behalf of those so severely, repeatedly and needlessly hurt on his watch in Boston.
--- The next Pope should forthrightly, compassionately, and effectively take prompt steps to safeguard the vulnerable and heal the wounded.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
--- Plead with any church official you know to intervene to try to convince Law to step aside.
--- Pray for the once trusting men, women, and children across the globe who have been harmed by abusive clergy and complicit church leaders.
--- Ask Catholics you know if they have been sexually abused. Be as supportive as possible if they acknowledge they have been hurt. Urge them to report the crimes to civil and criminal authorities. Help them find counseling. Tell them about our support group: SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Our web site is: www.SNAPnetwork.org
For more information: 312 399 4747, 314 566 9790 (US) or 1 877 SNAP HEALS
Posted by Nancy at 11:48 PM | Comments (0)