LOS ANGELES (CA)
NBC Los Angeles
[with video]
By Jonathan Lloyd and Olsen Ebright
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013
Church abuse victims Tuesday made a renewed call for criminal prosecutions following the release of confidential files that show top Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles officials tried to cover up the allegations.
“We’ve always been called ‘alleged victims.’ I think today the word ‘alleged’ will be left out and I think today you guys you will truly see and understand that we were victims — truly victims of manipulative men who made cold, calculated decisions as how to protect themselves and save face in the community,” said Manuel Vega, who was abused from age 10 to 15.
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) held a late-morning news conference at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Victims spoke about the recently released documents and called for an end to legal maneuvers that they say have delayed the release of more documents.
“We demand justice and we deserve justice, on behalf of the children we all were when we so terribly hurt,” said Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Director.
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