INDIANA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday, April 20, 2016
For more information: David Clohessy 314-566-9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com, Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org
Abuse case sparks controversy
Victims write to Indy congregants
Group says child was abused by older teen
It wants open public meeting and more training
SNAP: “We suspect police weren’t promptly called”
A support group for abuse victims believes a child was recently molested by a member of an Indianapolis church and urging congregants to prod church staff to be more forthcoming about the incident.
Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing to hundreds of members of Southport Presbyterian Church church says the organization “strongly suspects that law enforcement wasn’t promptly or properly notified” about the alleged abuse of a youngster in the church by an older teenager.
SNAP is “begging” church members to share any information or suspicions about possible child sex crimes or cover ups with police or prosecutors immediately,” saying it’s their “civic and moral duty.”
“All of us must share what we know, believe or have heard about possible child sex crimes with the experienced, impartial professionals in law enforcement,” the letter says. “When church members or staff take it on themselves to try and handle sensitive matters like sexual misconduct quietly and internally – even if they’re well-intentioned – it’s almost always a recipe for disaster.
“Several concerned individuals have asked for our help, so we thought this letter would be a positive first step,” said Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, the organization’s outreach director. “We work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded and deter the cover ups, and we hope some congregants will help us do this here.”
Church officials, SNAP says, should
—pay for “on-going counseling for the victim(s) from independent sources chosen by his/her family,”
—provide mandatory training for all staff and volunteers on how to prevent abuse and respond appropriately abuse reports, and
—hire an independent outsider or outside agency to “launch a thorough inquiry into which church staff and/or members knew what and when” and “include clear recommendations for making the church a safer place for all, now and in the future.”
Church members, SNAP says, should ask their youngsters “if anyone in the church – congregant, volunteer or staff member – ever touched them in a way that made them feel uncomfortable” and should “reach out to former church members and staff” and ask the same question.
“Often, when a youngster is hurt by a predator in a church, his or her family stop coming to services,” the letter contends. “Rarely do they explain why. So think about families who once came to church regularly and suddenly stopped coming. And contact them in a sensitive, loving way.”
“In every case of suspected child sex crimes, it’s safest and easiest to do nothing. But that’s irresponsible and endangers kids and helps predators,” said David Clohessy, SNAP’s director. “That temptation – to passively sit back and trust others to take action – is what we hope our letter will help overcome.”
Instead, SNAP advocates calling “independent, experienced and unbiased secular officials with any information or suspicions at all,” Clohessy said.
“It’s our job to share what we know or suspect about abuse with law enforcement,” the letter says. “It’s THEIR job to investigate and, if appropriate, to act. So do not assume that what you have seen, heard or suspected about wrongdoing is too vague, too old or too insignificant to be helpful.”
Church members should “ignore church staff or elders who caution against ‘gossip,’ because while “gossip is sometimes hurtful” silence about child sex abuse reports is “much worse” because “those who commit or conceal child sex crimes count on silence.”
And congregants should “resist talk of forgiveness,” SNAP advises. “Forgiveness is healthy but only AFTER the innocent are protected, predators are exposed and wrongdoers are held responsible. Premature forgiveness endangers kids and protects predators.”
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