SNAP Says Victims ‘suffering in Silence’

By Phil Ray
Altoona Mirror
March 9, 2016

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/631856/SNAP-says-victims--suffering-in-silence-.html?nav=742

Four representatives of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, on Tuesday called for an end to the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse offenses and asked the bishops of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and other Pennsylvania dioceses to publish the names and photographs of clergy and other employees who have been identified as child predators.

Judy Jones, the assistant director of SNAP's midwestern office in St. Louis, said, "There are many victims out there suffering in silence."

SNAP invited area victims to attend a confidential meeting at the Bellwood-Antis Public Library on Tuesday evening. The SNAP representative said the meeting was held to allow victims to discuss the abuse they suffered while being consoled by other victims.

Pam Erdely, who said she was sexually abused at age 17 by a nun at Canevin High School in Pittsburgh, said she joined SNAP because she wanted to "stand in solidarity" with other victims and help them heal as a group.

At first she didn't realize the magnitude of what had happened to her. She said it took time for her to realize that a crime had been commited and "that it wasn't my fault."