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	Clergy Sex Abuse Victims Urge McCain to Oust Adviser Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests Juky 17, 2008 http://snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2008_press_releases/071708_washington_mccain_hudson.htm They want presidential candidate to issue an apology for 'insensitive move' Appointment "rubs salt into wounds of victims & Catholics," self help group says Giving predators prominent roles also intimidates others into staying silent, SNAP fears WHAT At a sidewalk news conference, while holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will call on Senator John McCain to dismiss a key advisor who’s been accused of sexual misconduct and apologize for giving the prominent Catholic a role on a national campaign committee. They will also publicly urge others who saw, suspected or suffered sexual misconduct by the predator to come forward, get help and call police. WHEN: Thursday, July 17, 1:30 p.m. WHERE: On the sidewalk in front of the headquarters of The Republican National Committee at: 310 First Street in Washington DC WHO: A handful of women and men who were molested as kids by Catholic clergy who are members of a nationwide support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including a Chicago lawyer and social worker who is the organization’s founder and president WHY: Yesterday, a group called “Catholics United” called for presidential hopeful John McCain to dismiss a prominent Catholic advisor, Deal W. Hudson, from the Catholics for McCain National Steering Committee. In 2004, Hudson resigned as Catholic outreach adviser to President George W. Bush's re-election campaign, after an independent Catholic newspaper (the National Catholic Reporter) disclosed that Hudson was accused of sexual misconduct with an 18 year old college student at Fordham University in New York in 1994. That same year, Hudson left Crisis Magazine. He allegedly took the student to a party at a bar, drank heavily, and engaged in an inappropriate sex act with her. He gave the teenager a $30,000 settlement in exchange for her agreement to keep quiet. That same year, 1994, after the university conducted an investigation, Hudson left his tenured position at Fordham. In 2004, he also left Crisis Magazine after his alleged misdeeds were publicly reported. SNAP members believe that proven, admitted or credibly accused predators should not be given positions of authority and honor. When this happens, those already wounded are victimized again and those who might report sexual misdeeds are less likely to do so, out of fear and hopelessness. Hudson is a former Baptist minister who reportedly is close to political consultant Karl Rove. http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/07/religious-group.html http://natcath.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2004c/082704/082704i.php CONTACT Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP President 312 399 4747 cell David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP National Director 314 566 9790 cell Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Outreach Director 314 503 0003 cell
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