AUSTRALIA
SNAP Australia
Many survivors around the world feel betrayed, not reassured, by Pope Francis’ words during his US PR exercise.
We feel silenced and excluded when he speaks weasel words about us and how his institution has and will deal with the criminals within that institution who commit, enable or cover up horrific crimes against defenceless children.
We feel overpowered and disheartened that media around the world repeat his meaningless promises without reference to the reality of survivors’ experiences, and honour him on the basis of this misleading façade.
We feel Francis’ church still regards abused children as the wrongdoers, because instead of suffering in silence and neglect we insist on our right to speak about what happened to us, and to demand justice and healing.
We feel Francis’ church still regards institutional officials, institutional bank accounts and institutional reputation as the real victims, and those most deserving of compassion.
We are horrified by Francis lecturing the UN and US congress about human rights, while ignoring the well researched and reasonable recommendations of both the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and UN Committee Against Torture, which defended our human rights against abuse and re-abuse by church officials.
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