CALIFORNIA
Pokrov
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (9/13)- On the cusp of Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the US, as parishioners leave mass, abuse victims handed out fliers to church goers. The leaflets list the names of 36 publicly accused child molesting child molesting Catholic clerics in the San Francisco Archdiocese, and urges Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone to:
* disclose the names of other proven, admitted or credibly accused predators, and
* post all church predators’ names on his diocesan website and in church bulletins (like 30 US bishops have done).
The fliers also urge Catholic church members to
* question loved ones about these child molesting clerics (“Did any of these clerics ever hurt you?”) and
* prod anyone who has “seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes of cover ups to call law enforcement.”
For the safety of parishioners, SNAP wants Pope Francis to “defrock, demote or discipline” bishops who continue to “protect predators and endanger kids,” especially by keeping names of child molesting clerics secret.
For more than 25 years, SNAP has repeatedly urged bishops to “aggressively seek out and help” the thousands of victims “still trapped in silence, shame and self-blame.” But bishops refuse to do anything but the most minimal moves, the group contends.
So now, SNAP is prodding rank-and-file Catholics to take this step. Specifically, the organization is asking parishioners to circulate lists of publicly accused predator priests in their dioceses and ask loved ones if any of them were hurt by any of the priests.
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