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  SNAP Statement on Cardinal Brady

SNAP
March 19, 2010

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2010_statements/031810_snap_statement_on_cardinal_brady.htm

Statement by Barbara Dorris, national Outreach Director 314-862-7688

Cardinal Brady admits being part of a tawdry, self-serving and successful church effort to silence two teenaged clergy sex abuse victims. Yet he resists calls for his resignation.

He should step down. If he refuses, the Pope should oust him.

There are two reasons this should happen. First, Brady's departure would bring comfort to some of the thousands of deeply betrayed Catholics and deeply wounded victims.

Second, it would help deter future recklessness, deceit and callousness by bishops.

More revelations about Brady's misdeeds will likely surface in the weeks and months to come. It defies logic to assume that this is the only clergy sex abuse case in 30 years Brady has mishandled and concealed. History, psychology and common sense tell us that's extremely unlikely.

Let's be clear: one complicit Catholic official stepping aside won't usher in a new day of compassion and transparency and prevention. The church's deeply-rooted, long-standing and widespread cover up of horrific child sex crimes demands broad structural reform.

But one more corrupt church official being removed is a tiny step in that direction.

Brady resigning would be good. Benedict ousting Brady would be better. We call on the Pope to use actions, not words, to show that child sex crimes and cover ups will not be tolerated.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 21 years and have more than 9,000 members across the country. 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 David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, 314-645-5915 home), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Peter Isely (414-429-7259), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell)

 
 

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