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	National Survivor Advocates Coalition NSAC Raises Alarm Warnings about the Very Specific Choice of Words by Benedict XVI By Kristine Ward National Survivor Advocates Coalition May 5, 2010 http://www.nsacoalition.org/ With its experience across the United States and having witnessed the splitting of hairs of local laws and successes at pushing cases outside statutes of limitation by local bishops, National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) is increasingly concerned about the very specific words used by Pope Benedict. The pope called on all bishops to report abuse where they are "required" to report abuse to local authorities. We implore the pope to demand that all bishops report all abuse to local and state authorities. Our experience is highlighted by one example in the state of Maine in the United Statess. The bishop appointed an unlicensed counselor as the Victims' Outreach Coordinator. After meeting with this counselor, advocates became aware of the unlicensed status and recognized that neither the coordinator, nor the chancellor, nor the diocesan investigator was required by state law to report abuse that they learned about in the course of their work for the bishop. Advocates quickly rallied state legislators to include the language of "church workers" in the statute for mandated reporters. Now all "church workers" are required to report. NSAC fears that since bishops are well-trained at evading reporting of abuse and that not all local jurisdictions or states have updated their mandated reporter lists to include church workers and hence "not required to report." Bishops will take advantage of the system all the while continuing their PR mandated mantra of "we are doing everything possible to protect children." Given NSAC's familiarity with the tactics of bishops, we have also become alarmed at the number of ordained clergy working so closely with victims. First and foremost, we have learned that the ordained will use, lean on and hide behind their vow of obedience instead of acting in the interest of reporting abuse and saving children. Reporting is delayed or never takes place, priests escape and more children are raped and sodomized. Contact: kristineward@hotmail.com
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