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	Advocacy Group, Church Have Different Ideas on Finding Abuse Victims By Jane Gargas Yakima Herald-Republic June 11, 2008 http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/4828 YAKIMA — They concur on the goal but not on how to do it. A national group of people abused by clerics and the Yakima diocese disagreed Tuesday over how to reach past victims. Two members of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, traveled to Yakima to exhort Bishop Carlos Sevilla to be more aggressive about uncovering past cases of sexual abuse. Both from Seattle, Steve Snider and John Shuster, a national board member, held a news conference on the grounds of diocese headquarters at 5301 Tieton Drive. "We want to break through to this diocese," explained Snider. Specifically, SNAP asked the diocese to: • Post names of credibly accused or proven church molesters on the diocesan Web site. (About 15 dioceses around the country already do so, SNAP said.) • Have the bishop visit each parish where an alleged molester worked to talk to anyone with information. • Buy newspaper ads warning people in Colombia and Mexico about two clerics who served in Yakima who have been accused of abusing children. The Rev. Jose Estrada was deported to Colombia; Deacon Aarón Ramírez fled to Mexico. After the news conference, the Rev. Robert Siler, diocesan chief of staff, said that Sevilla would be willing to sit down with Snider at a mutually agreed date. Noting that Sevilla has repeatedly sought potential abuse victims, Siler said the bishop has already visited each parish where Estrada had worked. Siler surmised that it's possible the names of accused clerics could be posted on the diocesan Web site but advertisements in foreign countries would be too costly. The two priests are ultimately the responsibility of the two religious groups there that oversee them, he said. He also took issue with SNAP for airing its concerns publicly, without notice. "What's troubled me in the past is they send an e-mail to the bishop and then simultaneously to the media, and it made me wonder if they're truly interested in a dialogue or just publicity," Siler said. SNAP members argued that their previous letters to the bishop have gone unanswered. They emphasized the efficacy of publicizing offending clerics by pointing to a recent contact made to the local Voice of the Faithful chapter, a group advocating change in the church. A woman, who said she read about abuse charges against the Rev. Frank Duffy in the Yakima Herald-Republic, called to assert that he had also abused her in Yakima more than 30 years ago. Duffy, who is deceased, served in the area from 1971-89. Siler said the diocese also has fielded a call about Duffy but said it was confidential. The two SNAP members urged church members or employees to come forward if they have information about abusers or that could potentially keep children safe. "Abuse happens in every diocese in the country," said Shuster. "We need courageous people coming forth." Shuster pointed to Snider's courage in participating at Tuesday's conference. Snider was repeatedly abused by a seminarian and a priest in Seattle starting when he was 11 and has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder since, he said. The two men urged people to call the SNAP outreach number at 314-862-7688. The diocese also maintains a confidential hot line for victims of abuse, 888-276-4490. "We are continuing to investigate all complaints properly, but we have to be fair to those accused," Siler said. "That may be different in how some people want us to investigate, but the bishop takes these issues very seriously."
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