BishopAccountability.org
	Predator Priest Sentenced; Clergy Sex Abuse Victims Respond Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests May 4, 2011 http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2011_statements/050411_predator_priest_sentenced_clergy_sex_abuse_victims_respond.htm Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, SNAP Western Regional Director, (949) 322-7434 Today in San Bernardino, the criminal justice system worked for victims of child sexual abuse. While we are grateful this young victim was spared the difficulty of a trial, Fr, Alejandro (Alex) Castillo's guilty plea means the public did not learn if Catholic officials may have suspected or known of Castillo's crimes and kept silent. We thank the Ontario Police Department, who fought to ensure that Castillo's crimes were investigated. We also salute the San Bernardino District Attorney's office, who pursued the case on behalf of Castillo's young victims. Finally, we admire, respect and applaud the bravery of Castillo's young victims in this case, who came forward despite seemingly insurmountable odds. While Castillo has been sentenced to a year in prison we fear he when he is released that children will be in danger. We urge anyone who has been victimized to come forward and report to law enforcement, not the church. Most child predators do not only have one or two victims, and Castillo - or any predator - can be charged and prosecuted for other child sex crimes. No victim deserves to suffer in shame and silence. (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 10,000 members. Despite the word "priest" in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org) Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, SNAPclohessy@aol.com), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, SNAPblaine@gmail.com), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, peterisely@yahoo.com), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)
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