BishopAccountability.org
	Clergy Sex Abuse Victims to Leaflet near Cathedral Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests April 17, 2008 http://snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2008_press_releases/041908_leafleting_saturday_cathedral_change_laws.htm They ask non-Catholics & Catholics to help push legal reforms Citizens should force legislators to fix 'pedophile-friendly' laws 'Child molestation and church scandal hurts ALL of society,' SNAP says Group wants deadlines relaxed so more victims can expose and jail predators WHAT Wearing childhood photos and holding signs, clergy sex abuse victims will take to the streets handing out fliers near the papal mass. The leaflets urge all citizens (Catholic and non-Catholic) to lobby lawmakers to -- repeal archaic, predator-friendly laws, -- extend or eliminate arbitrary deadlines (like the statute of limitations) that prevent victims from exposing or prosecuting pedophiles in court The fliers also beg citizens to prod secular authorities to learn from the clergy sex crisis, do more to stop child rape, and not let or wait for church officials to deal with abuse 'in-house.' WHEN Saturday, April 17, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. WHERE At two intersections near St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan (47th & Fifth Ave. and 50th & Sixth Ave. @ Radio City Music Hall by subway) WHO Ten clergy sex abuse victims, including leaders of a national self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org) WHY While much attention is being focused on reforms church authorities should take to safeguard kids, SNAP also wants secular authorities to do more to stop child victimization. Specifically, they want to fix archaic and arbitrary criminal and civil laws that shield child molesters. The single most effective remedy, they feel, is to abolish or dramatically raise statutes of limitations that prevent legal cases against child predators. (In most states, victims who want to take legal action must come forward by their late teens or early twenties. Few victims understand their abuse, the devastation it's caused or their legal options at such a young age.) CONTACT Peter Isley 414 429 7259 Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747 David Clohessy 314 566 9790 Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003 Joelle Casteix 949 322 7434 (all are cell #s) SNAP office 312 455 1499
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