WASHINGTON
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Thursday, July 21, 2016
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, bdorris@SNAPnetwork.org)
A pastor is accused of sexually abusing a girl for two years. Now, his current and former church colleagues and members must aggressively reach out to others who may have information or suspicions about his alleged crimes or possible church cover ups.
Christopher L. Trent, who left Oklahoma three years ago and attended Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, will soon face formal charges in Washington state, where he lives now. But we strongly suspect he has abused others – either in Washington or Oklahoma. It’s not enough for his supervisors and colleagues to claim they’re “cooperating” with law enforcement. They must use their resources – church websites, bulletins, mailing lists and pulpit announcements – to seek out victims, witnesses and whistleblowers and beg them to call secular authorities.
Josh Carter, the top pastor at the Washington church where Trent met his victim, must lead the way with courage and compassion. But this duty – to reach out to the lost, wounded sheep – falls on every person who is or was associated with this congregation.
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