NEW MEXICO
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

For immediate release: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016

Statement by David Clohessy, director of SNAP (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)

Police have seized documents from the headquarters of the Catholic church in New Mexico because of a child sex abuse case. We applaud this move and hope it results in top church officials being criminally charged for ignoring or hiding evidence about possible child sex crimes.

[New Mexican]

All too often, law enforcement agencies are not aggressive in pursuing those who commit or conceal heinous crimes against kids in religious settings. All too often, they go after the predators but not the enablers. All too often, they take church officials’ word that church staff have little or no relevant information in these cases.

Such a naïve approach is irresponsible, especially given the long and continuing pattern of Catholic officials valuing secrecy…