BishopAccountability.org

VA--Vatican names new northern VA bishop; Victims respond

By David Clohessy
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
October 4, 2016

http://www.snapnetwork.org/va_vatican_names_new_northern_va_bishop_victims_respond

We’re disappointed in the Vatican’s choice for Arlington’s new bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh, North Carolina (who replaces Bishop Paul S. Loverde). Burbidge has shown no leadership whatsoever in the church’s continuing child sex abuse and cover up crisis.

http://www.cathstan.org/Content/News/News/Article/Pope-names-successors-to-retiring-Alaska-archbishop-Arlington-bishop/2/2/7312

In 2013, Burbidge ignored us when we begged him to warn his flock about Fr. Raymond Melville, a credibly accused predator priest from Maine who now lives in North Carolina.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/nc_alleged_predator_priest_now_in_nc_gets_off_the_hook

Just last year, Burbidge tried to deny a child sex abuse victim his day in court.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/nc_victims_applaud_new_ruling_in_pedophile_priest_case

Thirty US bishops have posted predators’ names on church websites. Burbidge refuses to take this simple, inexpensive, common sense step to protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded.

Often, when a Catholic official retires and is replaced, many parishioners and parents assume the new guy will be better than the old guy when it comes to children’s safety. That’s a reckless assumption. Complacency endangers kids. Continued vigilance protects kids.

No matter what church officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in Catholic churches or institutions to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling law enforcement, get justice by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.

Contact: davidgclohessy@gmail.com




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