Altoona-johnstown Diocese Protest

ABC 23
March 9, 2016

http://www.abc23.com/News/NewsDetails.asp?NewsID=19732


Just a week after a Grand Jury report detailing decades of sexual abuse and cover-up within the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese a group rallies to support victims. A small group held a rally Tuesday outside the Diocese in Hollidaysburg and clutching photos of innocent children asking the Diocese for change. This biggest issue is the cover up and that needs to get stopped in order for kids to get help. These young faces are important, they are the faces of survivors at the age they were abused. Those in the photos allow snap, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests show their faces to tell their story about sexual abuse at the hands of church leaders. And for Pam Erdely this mission is personal. I was sexual abused by a nun in my high school in 1972. Erdely made the two hour drive from Pittsburgh to stand on this lawn to stand up for what she believes in. Abuse is like a knife in your heart and a bullet in your brain. It is very dark and depressing. My main message today is, I just want to tell victims there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And a little closer to home one Blair County woman wanted to make her voice heard. She is not a survivor but she is standing united with survivors. I am a disenchanted Catholic. These grand jury reports are there in black and white and we need to support these victims. The Diocese was aware and acknowledged Tuesday's protest. We understand the pain they are going through. The Diocese says they remain committed to protecting children from abuse.