CALIFORNIA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Posted by Joelle Casteix on August 21, 2012
In response to what they are calling a “stunning silence by Catholic officials and shocking callousness by Catholics parishioners,” victims of sexual abuse are begging the head of the Los Angeles archdiocese to speak out about the arrest of two accused pedophile priests. And they want him to insist that his flock respond “appropriately” when clerics are accused of molesting kids.
Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests are writing LA Archbishop Jose Gomez about two priests – Fr. Luis Jose Cuevas of Long Beach and Fr. Rafael Venegas of Santa Monica.
Cuevas was charged in July with sexually assaulting a child. Venegas was also charged in July with sexual battery and giving alcohol to minors.
SNAP is “surprised and disappointed” that Gomez has “been silent” about the two arrests. “You pledged to be ‘open and transparent’ about clergy sex cases. This is when your flock needs you the most,” the letter says. “Catholics are confused, victims are scared, and children are at risk. It is your duty to reach out to every parish where these men worked and foster healing and help police, by turning over any information you have on these priests to law enforcement.”
In response to the news of Cuevas’ arrest, more than 100 of the cleric’s supporters came to his arraignment to show vocal support for him.
Such actions, SNAP says, intimidate victims, witnesses and whistleblowers.
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