They Urge Archbishop Dolan To Speak Up For Victims

More SNAP Members Will Head To Rome Later This Week

Group Wants Molestation Crisis To Be Considered As New Pope Is Picked

WHAT
Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, clergy molestation
victims will hold a news conference and:

• publicly urge Archbishop Dolan to tell US Cardinals to demand that
  Cardinal Bernard Law be replaced in all services for the Pope in Rome,

or

• Speak out against the Vatican’s hurtful decision to give Law high
  profile honors during a time when wounded Catholics are trying to focus on the Pope’s life and death, and

• explain why members of their group are going to Rome this week prior
  to the papal conclave.

The victims are upset that Dolan and other church officials stand
silently by while Vatican bureaucrats rub salt into the wounds of already
suffering victims and their families by giving Law such honors.

WHEN
Monday, April 11, 11:00a.m.

WHERE
At the Cousin’s Center, 3501 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis, at the main
entrance

WHO
Three - five clergy sex abuse victims and supporters who are member of
SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a self-help group,
including one of the organization's national board members from Milwaukee

CONTACTS
Peter Isely of Milwaukee,

SNAP national board member

(414) 429-7259 cell

Mary Guentner of Milwaukee,

SNAP Wisconsin Coordinator

(414) 418 3191 cell

Michael Sneesby,

SNAP Milwaukee Coordinator,

(414) 915-9387

WHY
Vatican officials have chosen, and Cardinals have apparently approved,
ousted U.S. Cardinal Bernard Law to lead a special mass this evening, Monday, April 11th, in Rome to mourn the Pope's death.  Law resigned as Boston’s Cardinal in 2002 and was sent to Rome to live after being exposed for covering up thousands of sex crimes by his clergy in Boston. 

On Friday, SNAP sent letters to each of the 11 American Cardinals in
Rome, asking that they try to persuade Law to step aside and speak out
against his self-aggrandizing behavior.

SNAP members are upset that church officials essentially ratified
Law’s actions by allowing him this position of honor and prominence. Law
public efforts to rehabilitate himself  rub salt into the wounds of thousands of victims and Catholics.

Despite horrific sex crimes and cover ups by Catholic clergy, many
victims and troubled Catholics have held onto their faith and are sad about
the Pope's passing. They deserve a chance to focus on Pope’s life and mourn his passing without the horrific distraction Law has become.

The group believes that Law’s prominence in Rome is bringing more pain
to already suffering victims and more sadness to already embarrassed
Catholics. The group wants Dolan and his fellow American Bishops and Cardinals to find the courage to break the code of silence in their church hierarchy, speak out on behalf of children raped in the church, and insist that Law be replaced and/or given no such honors in the future.

SNAP also plans to try and speak with Vatican officials this week in
Rome and stress that the next Pope should be more pro-active, effective and
compassionate in dealing with the world-wide sex abuse crisis.

SNAP is the nation's largest support group for people victimized by
clergy.
 
Contact
Peter Isely 414 429 7259
 
Similar letter sent to Cardinal George:

4/11/2005

Archbishop Timothy Dolan
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
3501 S. Lake Drive
St. Francis, WI, 53235

Dear Archbishop Dolan,

As you know, Vatican officials have chosen, and Cardinals have apparently approved, ousted U.S. Cardinal Bernard Law to lead a special mass this evening, Monday, April 11th, in Rome to mourn the Pope's death.  Victims of sexual abuse by clergy in the Milwaukee Archdiocese and around the world are upset that Cardinal Law has been given this very public and honored position in services for the Pope.  Certainly Law, who covered up criminal behavior by his clergy and allowed hundreds of children to be sexually abused, does not deserve such an honor.

SNAP members are upset that church officials essentially ratified Law’s actions by allowing him this position of honor and prominence.  Church officials stand silently by while Law is given a world wide forum to try to rehabilitate his image.  This rubs salt into the wounds of thousands of victims and Catholics throughout the world.

Despite horrific sex crimes and cover ups by Catholic clergy, many victims and troubled Catholics have held onto their faith and are sad about the pope's passing. They deserve a chance to focus on the Pope’s life and mourn his passing without the horrific distraction Law has become.

We believe that Law’s prominence in Rome is bringing more pain to already suffering victims and more sadness to already embarrassed Catholics.  Wewant you and all American Bishops and Cardinals to find the courage to break the code of silence in their church hierarchy, speak out on behalf of children raped by clergy, and insist that Law be replaced and given no such honors in the future.

On Friday, SNAP sent letters to each of the 11 American Cardinals in
Rome, asking that they try to persuade Law to step aside and speak out
against his self-aggrandizing behavior.  SNAP also plans to try and speak with Vatican officials this week in Rome and stress that the next Pope should be more pro-active, effective and compassionate in dealing with the world-wide sex abuse crisis.  Victims hope that the crisis of sexual abuse in the Church is foremost in the Cardinal’s minds as they choose a new leader for the Church.

We have asked the Cardinal’s to take action.  Today we ask you to take
action that shows respect for victims and for Catholics.  We implore
you to:

• publicly urge Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George and his fellow US
  Cardinals to demand that Cardinal Bernard Law be replaced in all services for the Pope in Rome,

or

• Speak out against the Vatican’s hurtful decision to give Law high
  profile honors during a time when grieving Catholics are trying to focus on the Pope’s life and death.

We hope that you will take these steps on behalf of victims of sexual
abuse by clergy and on behalf of the entire Catholic community.

Sincerely,

Peter Isely, SNAP Midwest Director, (414) 429-7259
Mary Guentner, SNAP Wisconsin Coordinator, (414) 418-3191
Michael Sneesby, SNAP Milwaukee Coordinator, (414) 915-9387