ILLINOIS
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )
A Cicero youth pastor has been charged with multiple counts of child sexual abuse in a case involving multiple children. We are deeply saddened that there are likely more victims suffering in silence and self-blame.
Juan David Ferreras was the youth pastor at Sonido De Alabanza Church, he also organized two youth retreats for the church. It is extremely upsetting when a man entrusted by the community to work with their children uses his position to sexually assault them. The church should publically explain how this abuse was allowed to occur and create better child protection policies.
We are grateful for Cicero police for searching for more victims and encouraging church members to speak with their children about the case. We urge Sonido De Alabanza Church officials to reach out to anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered sexual abuse. They should also reach out to the two camps that ran youth retreats for the church.
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