NASHVILLE (TN)
Tennessean
By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer
Citing continued lack of cooperation from the Diocese of Nashville in exposing priests accused of sexual abuse, members of a state organization that supports the victims urged church officials yesterday to reveal the perpetrators' names and remove them from the ranks.
A diocese spokesman countered the allegations, saying there are no priests credibly accused of sexual abuse serving in the diocese and that the diocese has developed an effective program to counsel victims and prevent abuse.
Standing at the corner of Elliston Place and 23rd Avenue former site of Father Ryan Catholic High School about 10 members of the Tennessee chapter of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) demanded that the diocese stop shielding priests accused of sexual molestation a charge the church here has repeatedly denied.
"If more people know, more children may be saved," said Annette M. Alix of Lenoir City, Tenn., who drove almost three hours to tell the story of her adult son who she said was raped by a priest while he was a child.