BishopAccountability.org
	SNAP Press Statement By Barbara Dorris SNAP August 9 2010 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2010_statements/081010_snap_press_statement.htm We are sad every time a deeply wounded victim loses a chance to expose wrongdoers - both predatory clerics and complicit officials - in court, whether criminal or civil. Victims need and deserve more opportunities, not fewer, to expose criminals, protect kids, disclose documents and start healing. It is of course ridiculous and disingenuous for the Vatican's lawyer to claim there was 'no evidence' of Vatican involvement in clergy sex crimes and cover ups in this case. Because the Catholic hierarchy fights tooth and nail in court, exploiting every possible legal maneuver (however far-fetched or immoral), many clergy cases never get near the discovery process. Unless there are depositions and interrogatories and records turned over, the cover up of horrific child sex crime remains covered up. That's what has happened here: the Vatican has 'won' by successfully taking advantage of legal technicalities, not on the merits. So at best it's premature, and at worst it's deceitful, to claim there's "no evidence of Vatican involvement." (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 22 years and have more than 9,000 members across the globe. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) Contacts: David Clohessy (314 566 9790 cell, 314 645 5915 home), Barbara Blaine (312 399 4747), Mark Serrano (703 727 4940), Peter Isely (414 429 7259), Barbara Dorris (314 503 0003)
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