BishopAccountability.org
	For Immediate Release NSAC January 4, 2009 http://nsacoalition.wordpress.com/press-releases/ Portland, ME – The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) pressed the case for getting to the truth about the actions of Bishop Richard J. Malone against a Maine survivor advocate by distributing a fact sheet outside the cathedral in Portland, ME today. On this first Sunday of the new year, the coalition called upon Catholics to resolve to cast off inertia and get the facts. The fact sheet is a point by point in depth analysis of Bishop Malone’s and diocesan spokesperson Sue Bernard’s recent statements and characterizations regarding Paul Kendrick and other survivor supporters. Mike Sweatt, a Maine member of the coalition said, ”What we see Bishop Malone doing is dodging the real issues of confronting the clergy sexual abuse crisis and using heavy handed tactics against an advocate. It’s a shell game to turn attention away from the bishop’s lack of true response to victims and their families.” Sweatt said the coalition members, survivors and family members came to the cathedral to distribute the fact sheet to try to counter balance the weight of the communication outlets Bishop Malone has at his disposal. “The bishop has diocesan staff, a newspaper, a website, parish bulletins and ready access to the news media as a leader of nearly 200,000 Catholics in Maine.” Sweatt said. “But we believe it is imperative to try get the facts out even if we are in a David and Goliath situation.” Mr. Kendrick, of Freeport, ME, has been an outspoken advocate for survivors since 1999 and involved in justice issues for many years. He reiterated today, “This is not about me. It’s about justice and compassion for the vulnerable, the weak and the innocent among us. It’s about protecting children. It’s about gospel values. When any of us doesn’t follow what we profess to believe in, including the bishop, Christian correction is needed and a call to fully follow the gospel must be made. We can’t afford to follow scandal upon scandal. And it is a scandal when bishops use words that sound holy but are not carried forth in actions.” At the press conference, local members of the coalition called upon Bishop Malone to stop the over done legal approach, reflect on the current situation, inform the community of abusers, and hold meetings where reasonable discussions can take place among the bishop, survivors, family members and advocates. The coalition, whose members are practicing Catholics from throughout the United States, called upon the bishop to post the names of priests who have abused minors on the diocesan website so that the community may have the knowledge to protect children. Bishop Malone filed a police action of criminal trespass against Mr. Kendrick’s attendance at Midnight Mass Christmas Eve in the Portland cathedral. The bishop went further and took Church legal action against Mr. Kendrick that could keep him from receiving Communion. “To use the holiest of our sacred rites, Communion, as a ploy to muzzle a survivor advocate combined with the implied warning to others who might speak up crosses the line of proper use of a bishop’s authority. It’s deplorable.” said Kristine Ward, of Dayton, OH, chair of the coalition. “The Church already has laryngitis in its moral voice because of the scandal. To use these kinds of out of proportion tactics further endangers the recovery of moral leadership by not only Bishop Malone but his brother bishops” Another coalition member, Jim Jenkins from Berkley, California said,“ We’ve seen the same tactics by bishops from coast to coast. The words are parsed, the information incomplete, the record intentionally left vague, pledges made and not kept yet believed because there is a bishop’s name attached to the statement. It’s not only time, it’s well past time, for the truth to surface.” Jenkins served on the archdiocesan lay review board empanelled by Archbishop now Cardinal Levada. Jenkins resigned on principle when Levada refused to fully investigate the leads that came to the diocese and the review board regarding clergy and sexual abuse. Levada, Jenkins said, chose to protect clergy, including bishops, rather than investigate. Levada is now head of the Vatican congregation that reviews sexual abuse cases, the office Pope Benedict held prior to his election as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Contact: Kristine Ward, National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC)-OH (937-272-0308) Michael Sweatt, NSAC-ME (207-831-3791) Marge Bean, NSAC-MA (617-851-6536) Tom Byrne, NSAC-OH (216-337-4017) Mike Coode, NSAC-TN (615-364-2334) Carolyn Disco, NSAC-NH (603-424-3120) Ed Friedl, NSAC-OH (330-289-8430) Bob Hoatson, NSAC-NJ (862-368-2800) Jim Jenkins, NSAC-CA (510-599-5173) Paul Kellen, NSAC-MA (781-395-3628) Lisa Kendzior, NSAC-TX (817-773-5907) Chuck Miller, NSAC-DE (240-481-0003) Judy Miller, NSAC-DE (302-234-1519) Ruth Moore, NSAC-MA (781-925-3080) Bob Schwiderski, NSAC-MN (952-471-3422) Steve Sheehan, NSAC-MA (617-319-0477) Sister Maureen Turlish, NSAC-DE (610-212-2770) rank Douglas, NSAC-AZ
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