Rome--Victims upset about papal sainthood

By Barbara Blaine
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
March 17, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/rome_victims_upset_about_papal_sainthood

Victims upset about papal sainthood

Several travel to Rome soon to hold vigil

Group: Honoring John Paul II "rubs salt into deep wounds"

"It also will likely encourage more church cover ups," they say

SNAP "Church must denounce, not praise, those who hurt kids”

An international support group for clergy sex abuse victims plans to hold a vigil on the eve of the canonization of Pope John Paul II.  

"He did many things well but for decades, he turned a blind eye to clergy sex crimes and cover ups," said Barbara Blaine, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. "For leaving kids in harms' way, he should not receive further honors and praise because rewarding wrongdoers encourages wrongdoing.”

Few dispute that Pope John Paul II “did almost nothing to help stop priests from raping children and stop bishops from hiding these crimes," Blaine said.

SNAP believes that the pontiff “must have known” about the multiple sexual abuse allegations against Legionaries of Christ founder Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado. Instead of disciplining or defrocking Fr. Maciel, the pope held a highly publicized special ceremony celebrating the anniversary of Maciel's ordination..

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/two-popes-to-be-canonised-did-nothing-about-maciel-allegations-1.1718344

“It sends a disturbing message when Catholic officials, who ignored or concealed abuse, are honored,” said Miguel Hurtado of London SNAP. “The message is ‘keep putting the reputations of officials above victims, keep putting children in danger. There will be no negative consequences for you in this church.’”

“Catholic officials must punish, not praise, those who hurt kids, whether directly or indirectly. Not doing so leads to continued cover ups,” said Nicky Davis, Australian SNAP Leader. “It also rubs salt into already deep wounds of victims and betrayed Catholics.”

http://www.thenation.com/article/160242/shame-john-paul-ii-how-sex-abuse-scandal-stained-his-papacy#

“For tens of thousands of clergy abuse victims across the world, Pope John Paul's sainthood ceremony will be a difficult time, stirring up wounds and adding to the hopelessness that many feel because the Catholic hierarchy refuses to reform its reckless, callous and deceitful handling of clergy sex case,” said Blaine. “We hope our brief and small presence in Rome will remind victims that they aren't alone and that some one understands their pain.”