TOLEDO (OH)
Blade
BY KEITH C. BURRIS
COLUMNIST FOR THE BLADE
This week, I met a courageous woman. She lives in Chicago now, but she comes from Toledo: Barbara Blaine. She is founder and president of SNAP — Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
Back in 1985, as a victim of abuse, she chose to speak up. Her road was a lonely one. She was told two big lies: Your case is unique. And, we will do something about it. Ms. Blaine says those lies hurt as much as the sexual abuse.
She started SNAP as a support group. It grew to become a watchdog with chapters in every state and many other nations.
SNAP and the people involved with it love their church. They are not destroyers. They are injured believers. They believe the church cannot heal until it really changes how it deals with clergy child abuse.
Ms. Blaine maintains that this has not happened, that abuse still goes on, and that the institutional response is to cover up.
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