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	Pope Marks Birthday but No Words for Victims in His Native Land National Survivor Advocate Coalition April 16, 2010 http://www.nsacoalition.org/2010/04/16/pope-marks-birthday-but-no-words-for-victims-in-his-native-land/ Silence From the Pope for Victims in His Native Country Prompts Coalition’s Warning About Road to Truth The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (NSAC) called on its “German brothers and sisters” to stand firm in courage in the sexual abuse crisis offering its solidarity but warning that the road to truth is not in trusting that Bishops will do the right thing. The coalition made its statement today, it said, because it is Pope Benedict’s birthday and in the land of his birth victims wait for justice. “As the scandal continues to reveal the horrific abuse that survivors around the world and their families carry each day, we raise our voices to cry out for the German children who have been raped, sodomized or otherwise molested by Roman Catholic priests, nuns and others affiliated with the Catholic Church,” Kristine Ward, chair of the coalition said today. “The Vatican has time and energy to defend the Pope but neither the Pope nor any of the Vatican hierarchy has the time or energy to speak at the very minimum direct words of comfort, explanation or responsibility to the German victims or their parents and grandparents. Where is the justice?” “It is deplorable, but no longer shocking, that local bishops, cardinals and even Vatican officials aided and abetted the criminals by hiding the crimes and criminals from police, “ It is in this spirit of solidarity but also acting on the experience we gained when a coalition representative went to Munich, Germany. “It is discouraging to hear reported that the current pope turned a blind eye to abuse in his own archdiocese by allowing an abuser to remain in ministry,” stated Michael Sweatt, an NSAC co-founder upon his return from his Munich meeting with victims. Mr. Sweatt said, “officials of the Catholic Church in Germany can cause further harm to the victims and their families, especially if they deploy the same tactics as have been used in the US. “ NSAC co-founders urge and encourage our German brothers and sisters to: · Report all abuse to police or other civil authorities. · Provide copies of all written communication with the clergy, even if it is decades ago or just yesterday, to lawyers and www.bishopaccountability.org · Embrace Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) efforts to begin support groups for victims. · Remove themselves and ask others to support them by removing themselves from the Church Tax, thereby sending the bishops a message that rape of children by priests and episcopal cover-ups of rape and sodomy will not be tolerated by the victims, parents and grandparents of German children. · Send letters to the local bishop(s) demanding they tell the truth about what they knew and about the names and locations of abusers. We come to these conclusions and advice because in the United States: · Bishops have staffed hotlines with diocesan attorneys who listened to the victims’ stories and then used personal facts learned from the call to fight victims in court. · Bishops have moved abusive priests to unsuspecting parishes despite promises in the Dallas Charter to be open and transparent · Bishops have staffed Review Boards with lay Catholics who agree with them and do not challenge them, some of whom do not even believe the degree of abuse some children have endured. They are not independent boards and members merely “advise” the bishop. · Bishops hide abusers in convents and guest houses or allow them to live in neighborhoods filled with children and unsuspecting parents. Some even live with the bishops in the cathedral residences For additional information, Contact: Kristine Ward, NSAC Chair (937) 272-0308, kristineward@hotmail.com Michael Sweatt, NSAC, (207) 831-3791, Mjsweatt@aol.com The National Survivor Advocates Coalition (www.nsacoalition.org) works to assist and protect the vulnerable in our communities. NSAC further seeks to reveal the truth, promote healing, demonstrate dignity and encourage respect for clergy sexual abuse survivors and their families. We stand in communion with all sexual abuse survivors, their families, those still suffering in silence and those who have died of suicide or been murdered. We stand with those who have, to date, found the courage to speak their truth and stand up for those burdened by the shadows of silence.
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