Survivors Call for Justice and Opening the Secret Archives of the Church

SNAP Network
July 30, 2020

https://www.snapnetwork.org/survivors_call_for_justice_and_opening_the_secret_archives_of_the_church

SNAP Leaders from New Orleans will hold a press event Friday, July 31, 2020, in front of Notre Dame Seminary at 2901 S. Carrollton Ave at 10 am.

The New Orleans Chapter of SNAP is extremely interested in knowing what the Archdiocese of New Orleans has shared with the Vatican regarding pedophile clergy. When Archbishop Aymond released the names of fifty-seven credibly accused clerics to the public on November 2, 2018, Canon law required all bishops to provide information to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) and the Vatican.

In December 2019, Pope Francis abolished the Pontifical Secret. This should equate to every survivor being able to obtain files on his or her abuser. Survivors and victims have a right to review the results of the local and Vatican review of the accusations and outcome of the Church processes.

We call on victims and survivors of those sexually abused to support this action to open the books even if your case was settled.

We have a right to view any documents the Archbishop provided to the Vatican. Such information will reside in the Vatican secret archives. If no documentation was provided to the Vatican, we have a right to know that also. We look forward to hearing back from the CDF as to whether the last several Archbishops of New Orleans have fulfilled their duties to make reports to the Vatican.

Our press event will be held in front of the residence of Archbishop Aymond. We hope that he comes out and answers our questions.

CONTACT: Kevin Bourgeois, SNAP New Orleans (neworleans@snapnetwork.org, 504-376-5445), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, zhiner@snapnetwork.org)