Archbishops Death Spotlights Abuse

By Celina Westervelt
KRQE
January 23, 2012

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/archbishops-death-spotlights-abuse

[with video]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - It was a legacy riddled with corruption.

Now an advocacy group hopes the death of former New Mexico Archbishop Robert Sanchez will provide healing for those still living with hidden secrets.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests or SNAP hopes recent media coverage of the archbishop's death will give victims abused by priests under his watch the courage to come forward.

"I've spoken to hundreds of victims, and what they tell me is it's like living their abuse all over again," said Mike Knellinger New Mexico's SNAP leader. "The ones that haven't come to terms with it and come forward to confront it, are the ones that have a particularly difficult problem. "

He said he hopes the death brings abuse clouded in darkness to the forefront. Sanchez was the country's youngest and first ever Hispanic archbishop. The Socorro native served New Mexico's community for more than three decades.

In the early 1990's when the pedophile priest scandal erupted in the state, Sanchez admitted he knew priests were abusing children but that it was a moral issue not a crime. Sanchez himself admitted to having affairs with women parishioners. He left the Diocese in 1993.

Sanchez died Friday at the age of 77.

"Just because he's passed away, doesn't change his past," said Knellinger. "There are other people out there who suffered at his hands because of his failure to deal with pedophile priests."

Knellinger wants victims to know it's never too late to report abuse and that they're not alone. SNAPS offers specialized counseling and support groups.

Contact: snapnm@snapnm.org