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	For Immediate Release National Survivor Advocates Coalition August 13, 2009 http://www.nsacoalition.org/2009/08/13/nsac-press-release-august-13-2009/ The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) a group that stands in solidarity with victims of sexual abuse, released the following letter sent today to the Leadership Conference of Religious Women meeting in General Assembly in New Orleans this week. In releasing the text, NSAC said the courage of survivors of sexual abuse by nuns and family members of at least one victim who committed suicide, must be honored. In an urgent call to the religious sisters NSAC asked the nuns meeting in a General Assembly in New Orleans to listen to the testimonies of survivors and family members. Complete Text: Sister J. Lora Dambroksi, OSF President, Leadership Conference of Women Religious 8808 Cameron Street Silver Spring, MD 20910 Dear Sister Dambroski and all LCWR members meeting in General Assembly: Our request is simple. You have seen the response of the Bishops to the sexual abuse crisis. We ask you not to imitate it but to think anew and lead. While you are together at this conference, please don't dodge, deflect, or deny the issue of sexual abuse of children and minors by nuns. You know survivors have been standing outside of our conference leadership building and conference leadership meetings for years. This year, please invite them in, truly in. Not just inside your conference building or your leadership building but also in where it counts: into your hearts and spirits. Then we ask you to act with hearts and spirits that cultivate justice. We are asking that you listen attentively to the survivors and family members of at least one victim who committed suicide who have found the courage to come forward. If this conference time doesn't work for the fullness of listening to them, please make the plans at this conference to mutually schedule the time to do it. We will be happy to assist you in any way that moves the listening and the inviting forward. Sincerely, National Survivor Advocates Coalition Contact Information: Kristine Ward, 937-272-0308
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