MARYLAND
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Friday, March 13
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com
We are glad that an ex-employee is suing the Baltimore archdiocese and we hope the case goes to trial so that parents and the public learn more about child sex abuse allegations at a Catholic school.
[WBAL]
Frankly, we suspect that Annette Goodman is telling the truth and that Catholic officials are trying to cover their behinds here. We urge top staff at Archbishop Curley High School and the Baltimore archdiocese to honor their pledges of “openness” in child sex cases and be more forthcoming about the child sex abuse accusations at the school and how they were handled.
Based on initial media reports, we called on church officials to fire Ms. Goodman.
[SNAP]
But it’s looking more and more like she was actually scapegoated. We’re anxious for the full truth to emerge in this case.
Catholic officials often tout their written abuse policies which they adopted belatedly and grudgingly in response to widespread scandal, criminal prosecution, civil lawsuits and public outrage. But those same Catholic officials often ignore and violate these policies.
And when Catholic school and parish staff see top church officials violating those policies often, it’s tempting for them to move slowly with child sex suspicions. Employees naturally watch and respond to how their bosses act more than what their bosses say. And when actions contradict words, actions are what matters.
It’s becoming clear that church abuse policies are largely for public relations purposes and bishops’ decades-old patterns of ignoring, hiding and minimizing child sex abuse remain intact.
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