David Clohessy
    National Director
    Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
    7234 Arsenal Street
    St. Louis MO 63143

    Eric Barragan
    SNAP Mexico Regional Director
    138 N. 10th St.
    Santa Paula, CA  93060

    September 29, 2006

    Norberto Rivera Carrera
    Curia Arzobispal
    Apartado Postal 24-433
    Durango 90
    Col. Roma 06700-Mexico, D.F.

    Dear Cardinal Rivera:

    We write to you today with heavy hearts.  We assumed that, as the shepherd
    of more than 15 million souls, the protection of the innocent and
    vulnerable would be your first priority.  We assumed that the healing of
    those deeply wounded by abusive clergy would likewise be important to you.

    We hoped that your response to the recent news regarding Fr. Nicholas
    Aguilar's heinous crimes would be at the caliber of a worried spiritual
    pastor, not a threatened businessman.

    However, we were very disappointed when you, through your spokesmen,
    responded to the latest news of Aguilar's crimes with an attack -- on one
    of his victims, on victims as a whole, and on our organization.

    Consider these quotes from your staff in the news media:

    "Enemies of the church (with) dark ends."

    "This is commercialized justice."

    "Their only objective is economic gain."

    Name-calling and blame-shifting is neither honorable nor helpful.
    Maligning those who've been sodomized and raped will neither safeguard the
    innocent nor heal the wounded.

    Instead of Christian charity, Joaquin Mendez received threats.  Instead of
    receiving a balm for his wounds, he had salt rubbed in them.  Instead of
    being held up as a brave hero, he was vilified for telling the truth.

    We humbly submit that you and your staff respond instead, as Christ would,
    with a healing hand, instead of a stiff arm and a harsh attack.

    Do you really think it's Christian to attack the motives of deeply wounded
    individuals who've been raped by priests, individuals you have never
    even met?

    We understand that his lawsuit is unsettling for you.  It's clear you
    believe you've done nothing wrong.  But you can defend yourself without
    attacking Joaquin and his supporters.  That is, we believe, what Christ
    would do.

    But instead of "turning the other check," you turned loose the attack
    dogs.  That strategy will only heap more pain and shame on the perhaps
    thousands of Mexican men, women and children who have been sexually
    assaulted by clergy.

    As a priest you promised to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and we
    commend you for that promise.  But we cannot understand how the actions of
    your spokesmen can be justified in light of that promise.

    We hoped that you would have learned from your fellow bishops in the
    United States.  They promised openness and transparency.  Instead, many of
    them have used slick public relations campaigns and hardball legal
    techniques.  This has allowed dangerous sexual predators to continue to
    prey upon children and has furthered damaged the reputation of the
    hierarchy of the church.  It has also only deepened the pain that many
    victims feel.

    Joaquin showed incredible courage in coming forward and revealing the name
    of the priest that sexually assaulted him.  He should have received help
    and counseling, not legal notices and threats.

    At a bare minimum he should be thanked because his speaking out is helping
    the church to recognize an evil that has festered for years.  The truth
    exposed brings healing as sunshine brings light and acts as a
    disinfectant.  Joaquin is offering a gift to the church and it should be
    appreciated.

    We hope you will reconsider your approach to sexual abuse by clergy and
    will rein in your staff members whose public remarks serve neither you nor
    your flock well.

    Thank you.

    David Clohessy
    National Director, SNAP
    314-566-9790 cell
    314-645-5915 office

    Eric Barragan
    SNAP Mexico Regional Director
    805-207-7424 cell

    SNAPnetwork.org