MEXICO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Friday, May 30, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests ( 314-503-0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com )
A Mexican priest, who has been found guilty of child sexual abuse, was defrocked by the Vatican. We are glad this predator has been defrocked and that a complaint has been filed with secular authorities. But, it’s irresponsible for church officials to stop here. They must aggressively reach out to others who saw, suspected or suffered this cleric’s crimes. And they must harshly punish any other church staff or members who ignored or concealed these crimes.
Fr. Eduardo Cordova was found guilty by the Vatican of abusing a teenage boy. The Archdiocese of San Luis Potosi filed a criminal complaint last week with secular authorities, the first such action taken by Catholic officials in Mexico. They should have called police first.
We also want Mexican church officials to not wash their hands of this predator now that he is defrocked. Archbishop Jesús Carlos Cabrero Romero should visit every parish Cordova worked and beg anyone with information or suspicions about possible child sex crimes to come forward and report to secular officials and start healing.
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