RICHMOND (VA)
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
Victims blast Richmond church members
Board publicly back recently-arrested minister
Pastor is accused of molesting two girls in Texas
Group says rallying behind alleged molester is “hurtful”
It “intimidates other victims, witnesses & whistleblowers,” SNAP charges
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will criticize the board of a Richmond mega-church for publicly backing a just-arrested pastor who is charged with molesting children. They will also urge
–the board to publicly apologize,
–church-goers and the public to “keep open minds,” and
–anyone who may have seen suspected or suffered the minister’s crimes to call police.
WHEN
Tuesday, May 28 at noon
WHO
At least three adults who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), including the organization’s Virginia Director and a woman who facilitates SNAP’s Richmond support group
WHERE
Outside the police station, 200 W Grace St. (corner of N. Jefferson) in downtown Richmond VA
WHY
The board of a Richmond church is publicly supporting their pastor who was arrested last week on charges that he sexually assaulted two girls in Texas in the 1990s. And SNAP says they should withhold judgment about the minister or back him, if they must, privately. Publicly support for an accused child molester, SNAP says, is “inappropriate, hurtful, and intimidating to others who were molested and to others who may have information or suspicions about the cleric’s alleged crimes.
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