BishopAccountability.org
	Vatican Must Help New Gov. Abuse Probe, Victims Say Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests December 17, 2010 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2010_statements/121710_vatican_must_help_new_gov_abuse_probe_victims_say.htm Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com) We call on Vatican officials, from the Pope on down, to cooperate fully with the just-announced Northern Ireland government investigation into clergy sex crimes and cover ups in that country. We were appalled to learn that the church hierarchy shunned Irish governmental authorities during the probe of the horrors caused by child molesting clerics and complicit bishops in that nation. Such intransigence must not be repeated. Nothing a single church bureaucrat says or promises about abuse will mean anything unless top church staff helps with this investigation. Words or pledges about what will allegedly help in the future mean nothing. Unearthing the cover ups of the past and present are what matter now. And if Pope Benedict's staff won't lend a hand with this probe, it's hard to believe they'll take even harder steps later. All Northern Irish governmental leaders seek now from Catholic figures is information. And if Catholic figures won't help with information, then they clearly have little or no real genuine interest in reform. If they refuse to help - or help belatedly, begrudgingly and partially – we hope the Northern Irish authorities will get tough, insist on full disclosure and expose church recalcitrance. And we hope that Northern Irish Catholics will express their disgust in the strongest ways possible.
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