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	Paul Shanley, Convicted Abuser and Ex-priest, Denied a New Trial by Highest Court in Massachusetts Voice from the Desert January 15, 2010 http://reform-network.net/?p=2534 From an email from SNAP’s David Clohessy, 1.15.2010. * * * Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests 312 399 4747 Kids are safer with Shanley behind bars. We hope this news will bring some comfort to the dozens he has victimized, many of whom are no doubt still struggling with the devastating, life-long effects of sexual abuse. The court is right: repressed memories are well documented and widely accepted in the scientific and therapeutic community, despite a small but loud handful of nay-sayers. Let’s hope this ruling will encourage others who were hurt by sex offenders to come forward, get help, expose predators, protect others and start healing. * * * Mass. high court denies ex-priest’s bid for new trial based on challenge to repressed memories DENISE LAVOIE AP Legal Affairs Writer 10:35 AM EST, January 15, 2010 [Unable to display image]BOSTON (AP) — The highest court in Massachusetts has denied a request for a new trial by a former Roman Catholic priest who was a key figure in the Boston clergy sex abuse scandal. Paul Shanley claims he was wrongly convicted based in part on a victim’s repressed memories. His lawyer calls the theory of repressed memory “junk science.” The Supreme Judicial Court said Friday that while the repressed memory theory is controversial, it’s generally accepted in the scientific community. A man claims Shanley raped him repeatedly when he was a child attending catechism classes in Newton. He says he repressed memories of the abuse for two decades until media coverage of the scandal in 2002. Shanley is serving a 12- to 15-year sentence for child rape and indecent assault and battery. This entry was posted on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 6:44 pm and is filed under Abuse and Cover Up, Church Culture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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