Bishop’s release of abusers’ names: healing, courageous, not enough (Your letters)

SYRACUSE (NY)
Syracuse.com

December 5, 2018

To the Editor:

I write as a 67-year-old survivor, former victim, advocate, author of “In The Shadow Of The Cross,” support person, lecturer, SNAP Leader of Syracuse and CNY, also greater Raleigh, North Carolina.

Monday was a day of very mixed emotions for survivors (“Syracuse diocese releases list of 57 sexually abusive priests,” Dec. 2, 2018). It was long coming. It should’ve been done years ago. I was happy to see that some of the priests are on the list, finally. I was also sad to see some that were reported to me and the diocese that were not on the list. For the survivors of those priests, it had to be an especially sad day. Survivors want justice and accountability.

I have been helping survivors for the past 16 years. I have listened to their pain and told them they are not alone. I continue to try so hard to make them feel that there is hope.

The bishop said Monday that some survivors did not want the pedophiles’ names released. I take exception to that. I have been answering a national hotline for those sexually abused three days a week for at least 10 years. I have spoken to thousands of victims, and I have never heard once, not once, that they want their predator not publicly named. Survivors say they do not want to have their names released but never say “don’t expose my predator.” The release of the names allows others to come forward and begin their healing. It is a very hard thing to do — to admit that this has happened to you. And I always respect the victim. I believe it’s the church’s idea not to identify the perpetrators in order to keep the public from knowing the truth.

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