Tuesday, November 22, 2016

SNAP SAYS VICTIMS SEEK TRUTH, HEALING

PDN: Church apologizes to new Apuron, Brouillard accusers


The Catholic Church apologized and offers prayers to all victims of priest sex abuse after another batch of lawsuits, filed Thursday, by two former altar boys and the estate of a deceased former altar boy against Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron and former Guam priest Louis Brouillard. CONTINUED



Letter from SNAP DIRECTOR below:

Victims Group: Report to Law Enforcement and Civil Authorities, Not Church Officials

Statement by Joelle Casteix, western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), (949) 322-7434jcasteix@gmail.com

It is a good first step that some church officials have apologized to Guam’s victims of clergy sexual abuse. But our experience has shown that true transparency and accountability only happen when victims come forward and report crimes to civil and criminal authorities, NOT church officials. 


In fact, church officials on Guam have covered up crimes for decades. It has only been because of recent changes in the civil law and the bravery of a few survivors that we are learning the true scope and scale of abuse and cover-up. There is no indication that church officials will change their long-standing behavior. In fact, we fear that they will use support groups and telephone lines to manipulate victims, like some dioceses have done on the mainland.

If you have been abused or seen or suspected abuse: DO NOT report to church officials. Report to civil or criminal authorities. DO NOT attend support meetings run by the church. Find a therapist or support group who is unaffiliated with the Archdiocese and whose only loyalty is to you and your healing.

(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 20,000 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 - Joelle Casteix of Orange County, volunteer western regional director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (949 322 7434jcasteix@gmail.com), David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, davidgclohessy@gmail.com), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org)

5 comments:

  1. We Catholics don't need an outsider like Joelle Casteix tell us how to clean up our Church. We can do it. The Victims Support Group established by Archbishop Hon is staffed by independent people who will do the right thing. Victims now have an ear and helping hand from the Church, as it should be.

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    1. LOL. Stupidest thing I've heard since Tricky Dick's press conference.

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    2. Yeah, Anon Nov 24 @8:27, you've been doing an amazing job to date...do the words "conflict of interest" mean anything to you? Why did it take the threat of lawsuits to make the Church and its lofty ministers pay attention and give a damn about the atrocities visited on innocent children? Hypocrisy much?? SMH...

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    3. Nothing but Tim lies.....

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  2. 8:27 a.m., cradle-Catholic Joelle Casteix is not an "outsider" where sexual abuse of a minor is concerned, so take your usual Neocat idiocy somewhere else.

    Despite the horrendous abuse she suffered at a wealthy Catholic high school in California, she did not leave the Church. Most of the Church abuse victims did, but that's certainly understandable.

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