BishopAccountability.org
	Clergy Abuse Help Offered in Charleston By Sarah Lieu CBS 59 October 13, 2009 http://www.cbs59.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=68369 A support group for abuse victims is forming in the Capitol City CHARLESTON -- A new support group is calling on anyone who suffered from clergy crimes to speak up. The group, called SNAP, which stands for Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation's largest support group for clergy sex abuse victims. It's forming a new support group in Charleston and is urging anyone who saw, suspected or suffered misdeeds by a recently convicted preacher, Sandy Cook, in Belle, or any preacher, to come forward, get help and call police. Two survivors spoke out, one from the Cook case, and another in a case involving the Los Angeles Diocese. It's a lot of opposition coming out and a lot of people are afraid to and then...you know...we're male. So it automatically is a pride ... very emasculating ... to come forward and say this," said David Mullins, who says he was molested by Sandy Cook. Cynthia Falter Maquez of Berkeley Springs says she her abuse started when she was in the first grade in the Los Angeles Diocese. She said the SNAP support group helped her deal with the trauma. "I'm still very afraid of finishing my school or being in large groups or people of authority because people of authority to me represent terror and violation." said Marquez. The group will hold its first support meeting Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Albans public library.
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