SNAP Claims Victims of Priestly Abuse on Guam Priests Still Serving on Island, Pacific News Center, February 10, 2009

SNAP Claims Victims of Priestly Abuse on Guam; Priests Still Serving on Island

Pacific News Center
February 10, 2009

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3207:snap-claims-victims-of-priestly-abuse-on-guam-priests-still-serving-on-island&catid=50:homepage-slideshow-rokstories

GUAM -- A nationwide network of victims abused by Catholic priests claims to have been contacted by a number of Guam residents who allege that they were victims of priestly abuse here on island by priests till serving in Guam's Catholic Church.

In an email release to the media Wednesday, SNAP urged Guam Archbishop Anthony Apuron to co-operate with them in rooting out abusive priests on Guam.

SNAP stands for "The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests." www.SNAPnetwork.org

In a telephone interview with PNC News, SNAP's Southwest Regional Director Joelle Casteix, said that they have been contacted by "a number of victims of priestly abuse" from Guam who are seeking assistance.

She said she plans on coming to Guam and working with those victims to expose the sexual predators in the clergy here and stop the abuse.

She has written a letter to the Archbishop as well calling on him to take effective steps to stop sexual abuse by priests on Guam.

The letter is reprinted below:

February 10, 2009

Archdiocese of Agana, Guam
Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap, D.D.
196 B Cuesta San Ramon
Hagatna, GUAM 96910

Dear Archbishop Apuron,

We are members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPNetwork.org), the nation's largest support group for men and women who have been sexually abused in religious organizations. During the past few weeks, we have been contacted by clergy sex abuse victims on the island of Guam who have asked for our help.

In June 2002, bishops pledged "openness and transparency" in child sex cases. Three months later, Baltimore's Cardinal William Keeler became the first US prelate to post the names of the predators in his diocese. More than a dozen other bishops have done likewise over the last several years. None have expressed regret over their decisions or faced substantial controversy or have reported any ill effects.

We believe that it is now your job as the top official of the Catholic population of Guam to make effective steps to stop sexual abuse, expose predators, and help survivors begin a path of healing. It has been eight years, and we believe it is now time.

To begin this process, we ask you to delay no longer and immediately post on the Archdiocesan website and parish printed and online materials:

-- the names, whereabouts, work histories, and current status of predator clerics,

-- information about SNAP and how victims on Guam can receive help and healing, and

-- contact information for sex crimes law enforcement where survivors can go and report their abuse.

Children need and Catholics deserve effective steps, not symbolic gestures, to prevent future child sex crimes and cover ups. That's what we seek - a

tangible, proven, inexpensive and common sense step that will expose dangerous men and protect innocent kids and heal wounded parishioners. We

ask that you, Archbishop Apuron, stop stalling and post - quickly and permanently - the names, photos, whereabouts and clerical status of every proven, admitted and credibly accused abusive church staffer (living or dead, priest or nun, archdiocesan or religious order).

Why are we making this request now? We believe that yes, you have stalled far too long. Because every day you refuse to make these names and whereabouts of predators public is a day that kids are needlessly at risk and a day that victims are needlessly suffering.

In addition, you have the power to facilitate a tremendous amount of healing on Guam. By posting and circulating information about SNAP, you can foster an atmosphere where survivors are encouraged to come forward and heal, instead of remaining in the darkness of shame and silence. Hand-in-hand with law enforcement, SNAP and survivors can expose predators and make sure that what happened to us never happens to another child.

You have the power to embrace the true spirit of Christianity and the teachings of Jesus by helping those among you who hurt the most. We hope you act swiftly to protect kids and help victims become whole.provided has sent a letter to Archbishop Anthony Apuron