SNAP Weighs in on What New Pope Can Do about Abuse Crisis

KMOX
February 12, 2013

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/02/12/snap-weighs-in-on-what-new-pope-can-do-about-abuse-crisis/

SNAP Director David Clohessy with Barbara Dorris

Local clergy abuse survivors have some thoughts on what they would like to see in the next Pope.

First, David Clohessy with the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) says he would like to see the next Pope order bishops worldwide to post the names of credibly-accused priests on their websites.

“We’d like to see the Pope take very clear and harsh disciplines, even against a handful of the hundreds of bishops across the globe who continue to conceal child sex crimes,” he said.

“At the risk of sounding harsh, this Pope has offered some nice words and nice gestures about the abuse crisis but virtually no meaningful action that protects children.”

Clohessy also hopes the next Pope will call on bishops to work with state lawmakers to reform laws which make it tough for victims to expose what he calls “child predators” in court.