SNAP Hosts Press Conference on Judge Perris’ Ruling

Portland, Ore–Today, Oregon’s SNAP (The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) will be hosting a press conference and rally urging Bishop Vlazny to not appeal Judge Perris’ ruling yesterday, ordering the release of more than a thousand pages of previously unreleased documents from the files of accused clergy of the Archdiocese of Portland, including clergy not previously identified as having been accused of abusing children.

WHAT
After a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will try to hand deliver a letter to Portland’s Catholic bishop, urging him to

• follow Pope’s recent admonitions to “do everything” to help victims heal,
• not appeal a new court ruling that opens up pages and pages of long-hidden church records about predatory priests, and
• insist that his priests also not appeal the decision.

They’ll also urge

• any current or former church staffer or member who ignored or concealed child sex abuse reports to voluntarily disclose their wrongdoing now, before the documents are released, and
• anyone who saw, suspected or suffered abuse by clerics to come forward, get help, and call police.

 WHERE
Tuesday, July 14, 1:00 pm
Outside the Portland Archdiocese headquarters/chancery
2838 E Burnside Street
Portland, OR

WHO
Two-three clergy molestation victims who belong to a support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) including a Portland man who is the organization’s Oregon director

WHY
SNAP is begging Portland Archbishop John Vlazny to NOT appeal yesterday’s court decision that lets the media and the public see more than a thousand pages of previously confidential church records about pedophile priests and those who may have helped hide their crimes.

Judge Elizabeth Perris ruled that the documents could be made available in 30 days unless the accused priests or the archdiocese appealed.

Already, however, Vlazny’s spokesman says he’s "reviewing his (legal) options," and SNAP strongly suspects that he will appeal the ruling or delay the disclosure. For the safety of kids and the healing of the church, SNAP is urging Vlazny to accept the ruling, and not try to overturn it, and let the documents surface. SNAP suspects the records will reveal the names of present and past church employees who knew or suspected abuse and ignored or hid it. The group wants Vlazny to prohibit his priests’ from appealing as well.

SNAP is also encouraging those individuals to publicly confess their wrongdoing now.

In public addresses, the Pope has said “it is important to establish the truth of what happened” regarding clergy sex crimes and that Catholics should “do everything possible” to heal the wounds caused by pedophile priests. Continued secrecy, legal hairsplitting and delays, SNAP believes, contradict the Pope’s stated wishes.

Oregon kids will be safer and Catholics will be reassured, SNAP’s believes, "if Vlazny stops “exploiting every legal technicality and maneuver your lawyers can dream up, and start acting like a compassionate shepherd instead of a cold-hearted CEO, and let the truth emerge.”

CONTACT

Bill Crane (503) 781-2345
David Clohessy (314) 566-9790
Barbara Dorris (314) 862-7688

Posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009, in Announcements | No Comments »
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