BishopAccountability.org
	SNAP Press Statement Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests September 12, 2008 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2008_statements/091208_minnesota_statement_montero.htm Disclosing anything about relatives of a 3-year-old victim is, at best, inappropriate and more accurately, morally wrong. The Archdiocese should never have made disparaging statements about a family member of a victim of sexual abuse. This family has suffered enough. It's wrong and hurtful in any way try to deflect blame from the pedophile priest on to any of them. We believe this is a deliberate effort by the Archdiocese to try and silence other victims and witnesses. It's wrong and we hope it will backfire. We frankly don't believe church officials were powerless to stop this predator from fleeing the United States. Church official should have insisted he give them his passport the minute the police were notified. The Archdiocese leaders also should have notified the public and parishioners immediately as soon as they knew the police were involved. They should have begged any other victims and witnesses to come forward. Instead, the officials of the Archdiocese did what they always do: they kept everything secret. We are here to state the obvious. The Archdiocese should take responsibility for allowing Fr Montero to flee the United States when he was facing allegations of sexually abusing a 3-year-old child. They should reach out to others who might have been hurt. And they should tell parishioners that it is their civic and Christian duty to report any information or suspicions to police. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the largest and oldest support group for those abused by clergy. Website: SNAPnetwork.org. Contact: David Clohessy of St Louis, SNAP National Director, 314 566 9790 Bob Schwiderski of Wayzata, SNAP Minnesota Director, 952 471 3422 Barbara Blaine of Chicago, SNAP President, 312 399 4747 Email: SNAPdorris@gmail.com
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