IOWA
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release, Thursday, December 10, 2015
Statement by SNAP leader Tim Lennon who was abused in Sioux City (415-312-5820, tlennon@snapnetwork.org)
Many of us are confused by and skeptical of Sioux City’s bishop’s claim that he’s starting a new program to teach kids about avoiding child molesters. We suspect it’s just a public relations move. We hope we’re wrong.
The “new program” is touted in the Catholic diocesan newspaper under the headline “Diocese of Sioux City Promulgates Safe Environment Program in Catholic Schools.”
Such a program was supposed to be set up 13 years ago when bishops were pressured to adopt their first-ever national church abuse policy. According to Article 12 of that policy in 2002 (called the Charter for the Protection of Children and Youth), dioceses are to “provide education and training for children. . .and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people.”
[Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People]
We urge Bishop Walker Nickless to hold a news conference, give more information and take questions from reporters about this supposedly “new program.” We ask for other concrete actions:
~~Make a commitment to report to civil authorities, police and child protective agencies, of abuse or a reasonable suspicion of abuse previous to any church action; aggressively encourage victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call police and prosecutors about known and suspected clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Sioux City area, no matter when they took place.
~~Visit every parish to seek any child harmed by sex abuse and offer aid and comfort
~~Open the books, notify each parish that has be plagued with clergy who have abused children; permanently and prominently post on the diocesan website the names, photos and work histories of every single child molesting cleric who spent time in Sioux City Diocese.
~~Make any new “Safe Environment Program” real by speaking from the pulpit; confirm the errors of the past; encourage awareness of parents, teachers and the community of the dangers
Dozens of US bishops are clearly worried about the new, highly-acclaimed film “Spotlight.” It details how dedicated journalists and brave victims exposed decades of abuse and cover up in the Boston Archdiocese.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.