Statement on Cardinal Edward Egan's Recent Retraction of Apology to Survivors of Sexual Assault

Male Survivor
February 18, 2012

http://www.malesurvivor.org/

Washington, DC, February 16, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Reacting to Cardinal Edward Egan's recent retraction of the apology he gave to survivors of sexual abuse committed by priests in his own diocese, Mikele Rauch, a member of the MaleSurvivor Weekend of Recovery team and author of Healing the Soul After Religious Abuse issued the following statement:

"The inability for Cardinal Egan to see the damage of his retraction is profoundly disturbing. What we know is that for the representatives of the church to shamelessly deny responsibility for what they have done as well as deny its impact on survivors, is itself a consequence of shame and hubris. The truth is, it is not up to the Church to say they have done enough. We stand with every survivor who has been silenced, denied, or blamed - and we understand how Cardinal Egan's retraction is re-traumatizing to every survivor who has already suffered by the crimes done to them by members of the clergy. We support all male survivors who choose to stand in protest against any institution who denies responsibility in their failure to protect vulnerable victims."