MISSOURI
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, November 26
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com , davidgclohessy@gmail.com )
A group of Missouri nuns is praising a convicted bishop. Unwittingly, they’re making the church less safe and healthy, by contributing to a climate in which victims are reluctant to report child sex crimes.
All adults, but especially those in the Catholic Church, have two choices: They can make it harder or easier to expose predators. But when clearly complicit church officials are praised, more victims, witnesses and whistleblowers give up and stay silent, fearing that those who conceal abuse will often be believed and supported while those who disclose abuse will be disbelieved and vilified.
We urge these nuns to act more compassionately and responsibly in the future.
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