Richmond Pastor Owes Victims an Apology

SNAP
April 3, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/va_richmond_pastor_owes_victims_an_apology

We are grateful that Pastor G will not speak at the Good Friday Cedar Street Church service. Rev. Chandler, however, still owes child sex abuse victims, especially those hurt by Pastor G, a public apology. Inviting an indicted serial child molester to have a place of honor in a church is at best insensitive and at worst intimidating.

We are especially grateful to Roscoe Cooper III of Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church and Tyrone Nelson of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, who announced their withdrawal from the event.

Pastor G should never had been invited. This thankfully short-l,ived honor makes it harder for victims to come forward. When charged child molesters are publicly supported and honored victims are intimated into silence. When victims stay silent children aren't safe.

We encourage those pastors, friends and other who know "pastor G" to read SNAP's "What to do when your Priest/Pastor is accused of abuse,

[snapnetwork.org]

We hope this news will bring some comfort to adults and teens who were sexually assaulted by Pastor G And we hope that his withdrawal will encourage other victims to come forward to authorities.