Survivors Group Calls Record Release "Day of Validation"

By Patrick Simonaitis
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
July 1, 2013

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/survivors-group-calls-record-release-day-of-validation-b9946024z1-213898651.html

Leaders of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and several victims of sexual abuse by priests responded Monday to the release of thousands of pages of documents relating to years of sexual abuse released by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee earlier today.

"This is a day of validation for hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of victims of child sexual abuse," said Peter Isely, the Midwest director of SNAP, said at an afternoon news conference outside of the federal courthouse. "Today is mostly a day of sadness and grief, but it has to turn into a day of accountability and responsibility."

Isely said the group is sending a letter to federal prosecutors to bring fraud charges against former Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan for his role in transferring funds from the Archdiocese into a cemetery trust fund that would be protected against liability in the Archdiocese's bankruptcy case.

"In order to solve cases of state fraud, these priests committed federal fraud," Isely said. "It's long overdue that there is a federal investigation into this Archdiocese and how they have concealed and moved not only predator priests, but all the money also."

In a June 4, 2007 letter, Dolan wrote that the transfer of the funds would bring "an improved protection of these from any legal claim and liability."

The Vatican approved the $57 million transfer on July 18 of that same year.

Isely and SNAP leaders also said that these documents were only the beginning of actual transparency by the Church and that they believe there are more sexually abusive individuals that the Church is still protecting.

"They have information that parents need to know now to protect their children. They have information, give us the information now," he said.

Isely said the next step for SNAP is to press for the full release of names of all alleged offenders.

They are also pushing for a federal investigation.

"What do you have to do to get investigated?" Isely asked. "We're hoping for prosecution. Why are none of these people in prison?"