Bob Jones Victims Should Call Police, Group Says

SNAP
February 14, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/sc_bob_jones_victims_should_call_police_group_says

We are glad talks are resuming between Bob Jones University officials and GRACE, the non-profit that is looking at sex crimes at the school.

However sexual crimes should be reported to law enforcement by anyone who sees, suspects or suffers them. To most victims this is a frightening prospect but if innocent kids and vulnerable adults are to be protected victims must somehow find the strength, courage and wisdom to call secular officials not religious officials.

None of this would be happening, if not for the real heroes who have already spoken up and refused to accept excuses and evasions from Bob Jones officials. It may take years, but we believe these extraordinarily brave men and women will someday be recognized by university staff, student and alums as the responsible caring pioneers that they are.

We commend each one of them: victims, witnesses and whistleblowers. Regardless of whether this report is ever finalized and released law enforcement officials must be contacted and step up.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)