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  Group to Picket Services Today

News-Chronicle [Wisconsin]
Downloaded March 7, 2004

Members of an anti-abuse group will hand out leaflets at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay today, as well as at other cathedrals in Wisconsin, to push for a stronger state law to protect children in abuse cases.

Members of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a nationwide support group, will protest before services in Green Bay, la Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee and Superior. The leaflets urge Catholics in all five Wisconsin dioceses to: call lawmakers Monday and Tuesday to ask them to pass stronger laws to protect children and come forward if they have experienced, witnessed or suspected sexual abuse by clergy.

The group blames Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly for weakening a proposed law to protect children by removing a mandatory reporting provision requiring clergy to report child abuse to civil authorities, and not putting in a one-year window for victims to seek justice in court whenever their molestation occurred.

SNAP said it also wants to encourage parishioners who have experienced, witnessed or suspected crimes to contact civil authorities, a therapist or a support group, so children can be safe and our communities can be free of pedophiles.

 
 

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