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	Broadcast of Prop 8 Trial Could Open Avenue for Legislative Money Knowledge for Catholics National Survivor Advocates Coalition January 11, 2010 http://www.nsacoalition.org/2010/01/11/broadcast-of-prop-8-trial-could-open-avenue-for-legislative-money-knowledge-for-catholics/ National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) Urges Judge’s Approval for Broadcasts of Proposition 8 Trial in California Trial Would Open An Avenue for Catholics to Know How Bishops Spend Their Money To Support or Defeat Legislation Coalition Cites “Bitter Lessons” Learned from “Secrets” of Abuse Scandal For Immediate Release The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) urged Ninth Circuit District Court Judge Alex Kosinki to approve the decision of Northern California District Judge Vaughan Walter to allow a delayed daily broadcast of the Proposition 8 trial on YouTube from the outset of the trial on Monday. The coalition, a United States based organization that was founded to support victims of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy and religious women, also urged both federal judges to allow live television in the courtroom during the trial. Citing Roman Catholic bishops’ direct involvement in this issue and the “bitter lessons” learned about these same bishops; secrecy in the clergy sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church, the coalition called upon the judges to act in the interest of openness and transparency in the search for truth. Catholics, the coalition, said, should know not only how their money is being spent but how much is being spent to support or defeat legislation. An open trial provides an avenue for this knowledge, the coalition argued. The Catholic Church, an opponent of Proposition 8, should applaud and support any efforts that open the avenues of access to justice through a transparent process, the coalition said. “Secrecy breeds corrosion,“ the coalition said, “and it is an enemy of the truth.’ Exit polls showed that 64% of Catholics voted yes on Proposition 8 to ban same sex marriage. Catholic bishops in California led by San Francisco Archbishop George Neiderbauer, former bishop of Salt Lake City, formed an alliance with Mormons to support the proposition. Pointing out that it has been difficult if not impossible for Catholics to find out the cost of lawyer fees in the Church’s against victims of clergy sexual abuse and legislative statute of limitation battles in a number of states, the coalition hailed the potential broadcast of the trial as a possible avenue for knowledge of the where, why and how much Catholic money is spent on legislative initiatives. Historically, Catholic bishops have depended on the deference shown them by government officials, police, the news media and the courts in order to keep their secrets. Much harm has been done. “Knowledge,“ the coalition declared, “ is indeed power.” Text of letter to the Judge Dear Judge Kozinki: We support openness in court proceedings and their wide accessibility in the pursuit of truth and thus we urge you to approve the decision of Judge Vaughan Walter to permit an upload to YouTube of the daily proceedings of the Proposition 8 trial beginning on Monday. Indeed we urge you to go further and allow the proceedings of the Proposition 8 trial to be broadcast live. We have learned bitter lessons from the secrecy that has surrounded the handling of clergy sexual abuse cases by bishops and it has been a catalyst for our push for transparency. Historically, such secrecy was enabled by deference shown the bishops by law enforcement, the media, the government and the courts. Secrecy breeds corrosion and it is the enemy of the truth. Knowledge is indeed power. Citizens should literally see for themselves the proceedings of judicial activity particularly in regard to as major an issue as the one involved in Proposition 8. All citizens should be able to see for themselves how this process unfolds, who the key players are, how they are funded and what their end-game maybe. While declaring our interest in the possible knowledge that may be gained regarding the activities and financial decisions of Catholic bishops in California concerning the spending of Catholic money, we make this request of you to allow the widest possible access to these proceedings based on our conviction that secrecy is corrosive and justice is better served if easy access to legal proceedings is available. The Church, a supporter of Proposition 8, should, we believe, applaud and support any efforts for openness and transparency in this trial. Openness and transparency are stated hallmarks of the bishops following revelations of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, built into the Bishops’ Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The public discourse is enhanced, we believe, when supporters and opponents of issues such as Proposition 8 have wide arenas of communication for the exposition and argument of their respective positions. In the interest of justice, we urge you to approve the broadcast of the court proceedings of the Proposition 8 trial. We respectfully request that you work with Judge Walter to seek the highest and best avenues to provide access to the trial proceedings to the largest possible number of citizens. Sincerely, Kristine Ward,NSAC Chair James Jenkins, Ph.D,NSAC – California
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