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	Irish Papal Nuncio Now Goes to Prague; SNAP Objects SNAP July 28, 2011 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2011_statements/072811_irish_papal_nuncio_now_goes_to_prague_snap_objects.htm Statement by Peter Isely of Milwaukee, national board member of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com) The Irish Times is reporting that the former Irish papal nuncio, who refused to help government investigators looking at clergy sex crimes and cover ups, has reportedly been transferred to Prague. If this is true, it’s terribly distressing. If this is true, Pope Benedict is sending a clear signal to church officials across the globe: “If you stonewall secular authorities and keep clergy sex crimes and cover ups covered up, I’ll protect you.” Benedict should, of course, do just the reverse: he should severely discipline Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza. If the pope would do this, here’s the message church officials across the globe would get; “If you ignore secular officials and conceal crimes, you will be harshly punished.” But instead of being fired, Leanza gets a lateral move and retains his title and prestige, even though he thumbed his nose at Irish government officials who were merely trying to find out the truth about clergy sex crimes and cover ups. In our view, Leanza should never hold a position of authority in the church again. Letting him continue in a post of honor and clout insults the Irish people and the Irish government. Worse, it rubs even more salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of thousands of suffering Irish women and men who have been assaulted by clergy and betrayed by bishops. Shame on Pope Benedict. Shame on Archbishop Leanza. We hope the Czech government will reconsider and stop Leanza from working in Prague. (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 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. 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) Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com),Peter Isely (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com),Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com). http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0728/1224301502280.html The Irish Times - Thursday, July 28, 2011 Papal nuncio Prague move MARY FITZGERALD Papal nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza is to shortly take up a posting in Prague, the Czech embassy has confirmed. Archbishop Leanza, who has been at the centre of the fallout from the Cloyne report, was due to finish his posting in Ireland this summer. He was appointed papal nuncio to Ireland in February 2008, and arrived in Dublin that April. The Czech embassy in Dublin confirmed yesterday that diplomatic consent for his posting to Prague has already been given by the Czech authorities. It has not yet been confirmed exactly when Archbishop Leanza will move to Prague.
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