PENNSYLVANIA
The Tribune-Democrat
By Dave Sutor
dsutor@tribdem.com
Children – and the adults they eventually become – are obviously the individuals most directly affected when a pedophile religious leader commits a sexual assault.
But they often do not suffer alone.
Family members and friends watch their loved ones wrestle with substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anti-authority anger and self-destructive inter-personal relationships – while often not even knowing the root cause of their emotional struggles.
Helping victims interact with those closest to them – in order to create stronger relationships – is part of the mission being carried out by the newly formed Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests that was founded by John Nesbella and Thomas Venditti.
“We keep talking about the victim – like me, as a victim,” said Shaun Dougherty, a SNAP supporter from Johnstown. “Well, there’s a whole circle around me that’s also affected by this. My family’s been affected by this. My friends have been affected by this. Past jobs have been affected by this. Past relationships have been affected by this.”
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