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  A Mother's Reason for Joining SNAP

By Emily Matesic
WBAY - ABC2
January 10, 2008

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=7601457

A national support organization for victims of sexual abuse by clergy says it isn't trying to harm the Green Bay Catholic diocese.

Instead, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) says it's just trying to get the diocese to come clean.

In the last week, SNAP officials have accused the diocese of covering up what it claims are dozens of cases of sexual abuse. The diocese refutes those claims, and says in the past several years it turned over information to law enforcement about any substantiated allegations of sexual abuse.

It's been 20 years since Judith Schauer's son David was molested by former Green Bay priest Donald Buzanowski. In 2005, Buzanowski was convicted and sentenced to 32 years in prison for his crimes.

Today Schauer is part of SNAP, a non-profit organization that helps victims of clergy abuse.

"SNAP is like a family where everyone has something in common. Every story is not the same but yet you feel you're not alone," she said.

It's that sense of family, she says, that motivates her and other SNAP members to move forward.

"What can we do to make sure this never happens to another child? This being the fact that, yes, teachers do things, so many communities this is going to happen, but it shouldn't happen from our clergy."

Action 2 News contacted the diocese, which declined an interview.

Even though SNAP has been very critical of the Green Bay diocese lately, in the end, Schauer says the group isn't trying to harm the Church. Rather, she says it's trying to protect the children.

"Let's stop this. Let's be honest and let's open it up — and that's what SNAP is doing, I feel, really, really making awareness."

Contact: ematesic@wbay.com

 
 

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