SOUTH CAROLINA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Wednesday July 10, 2013
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com )
A new South Carolina study finds that in child abuse cases “churches often stand between victims and help” and that churches “were least likely to report abuse and sometimes covered it up, urging victims to forgive their abusers instead of reporting them,” according to today’s New York Times.
This is very distressing. Churches know better. But time and time again, church officials and members timidly put their selfish interests above the safety of kids.
It’s been more than 25 years since the first shocking clergy sex abuse and cover up case garnered national attention. In just one denomination (Catholic), church officials admit there have been more than 6,200 child molesting clerics (and we strongly suspect the real figure is substantially higher).
Yet we still see, time and time again, spiritual figures acting like cold-hearted CEOs instead of like compassionate shepherds.
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