Clergy Sexual Abuse and Cover-up Case Settles, SNAP Responds

SNAP
October 13, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mn_clergy_sexual_abuse_and_cover_up_case_settles_snap_responds

This settlement and these promises are happening for two reasons: because caring victims take legal action and complicit officials fear trials. Let's never forget these two simple facts. So we desperately hope that no matter how this agreement plays out, we hope that men, women and kids who have been sexually violated by Minnesota priests, nuns, seminarians, brothers and other Catholic officials keep filing police reports and civil lawsuits.

What may happen in the future is unclear. What's happening now and what's happened in the past, however, is crystal clear: Catholic officials don't ever pledge reform - must less carry it out - unless they're under tremendous external pressure. That hasn't changed and likely won't. That pressure must come from brave victims, witnesses, whistleblowers, journalists and our justice system.

We in SNAP support any moves toward reducing the nearly limitless power that bishops exercise over so-called church "investigations" into clergy sex crimes and therefore welcome today’s announcement. But we have also heard time and time again, Catholic officials claim that their processes and their new staff are "independent" when in truth, they almost never really are.

So we join with Al Michaud in urging continued vigilance and healthy skepticism. Thousands of clergy sex crimes and cover ups have happened, and keep happening in Minnesota. The reason is not inadequate staff or protocols. So more or different staff or protocols isn't really the answer. Rather, it's a strong and independent system of 'checks and balances' - involving all of us - on the inherent secrecy of a self-serving, all male monarchy that answers to virtually no one. While hoping these new systems will protect children, we urge anyone who saw, suspects or experienced inappropriate sexual actions or cover ups to call law enforcement promptly.