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| Sex Abuse Victims Want Whistle-blower Priest Honored
SNAP Australia
November 29, 2012
http://www.snapaustralia.org/SNAP_PressRelease_30November2012_Woolongong.html
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a footpath news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will urge anyone who saw, suspected, or suffered child sex crimes to;
--come forward, make a report and start healing,
--SNAP will urge the current Wollongong Bishop to find more victims
--SNAP will also honor the memory of the priest who worked so hard to expose abuse
WHEN
Friday November 30 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside Edmund Rice College 112 Mount Keira Road, West Wollongong
WHO
Two to three members of an international support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) including an American woman who is the organisations president and founder.
WHY
In 1994 police in Wollongong were prepared to lay charges against Brother Michael Evans for sexual assault against a boy. Brother Evans was the headmaster of a local school, Edmund Rice College. Brother Evans committed suicide before police were able to charge him.
Brother Evans was also accused of abusing a boy while he was working in Sydney, prior to moving to Wollongong. Upon learning of the allegation against Brother Evans, his Christian Brother superiors moved him to Wollongong.
When Father Maurie Crocker was told by a seminary student that he was abused by Brother Evans, Crocker went to the police and encouraged the victims to make a statement. Father Crocker was later found dead.
Victims want to see Crocker’s memory honored. They question why other priests are not taking similar actions to expose predators and protect children. They will ask that other priests and church officials who know of or suspect sex crimes to speak up.
They want to ensure the cover-ups stop, those responsible are held accountable and that those who worked to expose abuse and protect kids are honored.
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CONTACT
Barbara Blaine, SNAP President and Founder (0449 018 594 or +1 312 399 4747, bblaine@snapnetwork.org)
Nicky Davis, SNAP Australia Leader ( 0422 538 440, nicky@nickydavis.com.au)
Mark Fabbro, SNAP Australia Leader ( 0411 390 850, survivorsclergy@gmail.com)
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