MD- Sovereign Grace Ministries abuse trial, SNAP responds

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
May 14, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/md_sovereign_grace_ministries_abuse_trial_snap_responds

Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790,SNAPclohessy@aol.com)

We are impressed by and grateful for the courage of every victim and witness who testified in the child sex abuse trail against a former member of the Covenant Life Church, Nathaniel Morales. It takes real strength and bravery to take the witness stand in open court against a charming and charismatic spiritual figure.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/05/nathaniel-morales-trial-begins-jury-selection-process-103048.html

And we hope that the courage of these men and women will inspire others who saw, suspected or suffered crimes in the Sovereign Grace Ministries (Covenant Life Church is part of) to step forward too. It's never too late to share what you know or believe about child sexual abuse with police, prosecutors and the public. 

These insular institutions - in which officials discourage trust in secular authorities and insist on handling crimes internally - won't reform themselves. It takes brave individuals - inside and outside these unhealthy institutions - to speak up if kids are to be safe.

Finally, Morales didn't act alone. Others with Sovereign Grace Ministries are likely complicit in his child sex crimes or child sex crimes by other predators. We hope they will "come clean" about what they know or suspect about abuse, including Mark Prater and C.J. Mahaney and all the rest.