Italy - Victims Push Pope for Action on His Last Day

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
February 25, 2013

http://www.snapnetwork.org/italy_victims_push_pope_for_action_on_his_last_day

• Victims push Pope for action on his last day
• They list 5 things he should do before leaving
• “Take decisive action now,” self help group urges

Holding signs and childhood photos at a news conference, US clergy sex abuse victims will

-- Publicly push for 5 specific actions for Pope Benedict to take before he resigns, and

-- Urge papal electors to push Cardinal Brady and Cardinal Mahony to not participate in the conclave, and

--Urge all who have seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups to come forward get help, call police, expose wrongdoing, protect others and start healing

WHEN:

Tuesday, February 26 at 2:00 pm

WHERE:

Orange Hotel, 86 Via Crescenzio 00193, Roma +39.06.6868969

WHO:

Two leaders of the US-based international support group SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who is the organization’s long time director

WHY:

In his final day as Pope, SNAP wants Pope Benedict to undertake steps now that will deter future abuse of children by clergy and will help ease the pain and suffering of abuse victims.

“Even though he’s retiring, the Pope still has power for the next couple of days, and we want him to use that power to help prevent more abuse and cover-up,” said David Clohessy, SNAP Director. “He should take action now to protect kids.”

Specifically, they want Pope Benedict to

- discipline at least a handful of current prelates who are concealing or who have concealed child sex crimes,

- insist that every bishop post names of the credibly accused predator priests on his website

- order bishops to actively work with lawmakers to pass stronger child safety measures and reform archaic laws that shield officials who commit and conceal child sex crimes

- turn over all church abuse and cover up records held by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to local law enforcement and

- halt the canonization of Pope John Paul, so all church employees will see that ignoring or hiding child sex crimes will lead to consequences.

“The time for promises and policies is over,” said Clohessy. “It is time for decisive action.”

The group also wants secular officials to investigate corrupt church officials, especially in Los Angeles and Scotland where two prelates have recently been exposed as wrongdoers.