Convicted Orthodox Archbishop Requests Bail, SNAP Responds

SNAP
July 17, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/canada_convicted_orthodox_archbishop_requests_bail_snap_responds

Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, Orthodox Director of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (925-708-6175, melanie.sakoda@gmail.com)

A Canadian archbishop, who was convicted of child sexual abuse and sentenced to 8 months in jail last week, has appealed his conviction and requested to be released on bail. We hope the judge denies this request.

Archbishop Seraphim Storheim was found criminally guilty of sexually abusing a child. While locked up, he cannot hurt any more children. We disagree with Storheim's attorney, who claims the archbishop poses no threat to society. Child molesters rarely abuse only once or change their ways.

The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) should oppose his release and now more than ever should reach out to anyone else who was hurt by the archbishop and might be suffering in silence and self-blame.