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SNAP For immediate release: Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 862 7688 home, 314 503 0003 cell) Statement at the Baptist General Convention of Texas We're here today for several reasons. Because we want to protect kids. Because in the building behind us are names of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of predatory preachers. Because this is the largest statewide Baptist organization in America. Because it's under new leadership. Because the national Baptist leadership won't act. Because we've seen the good that happens when religious institutions name child molesting clergy. And finally, because we believe that parents, police and the public deserve and need to know the identities of ministers who prey on kids. This is what we are asking this Baptist organization to do: (1) Post on its website the names of ministers in the sex-abuser file so that others can be warned; (2) Find the current location of ministers in that file and inform people in the pews of every church where a file-listed minister has worked; (3) Turn over to secular authorities all names and materials in that file so that criminal investigations can at least be considered; (4) Begin receiving, assessing and archiving clergy abuse reports from the victims themselves and not merely reports from local church officials. Baptists won't ever find out about most clergy predators if they don't provide the victims with a safe place for reporting them. Regardless of what Baptist officials do or don't do, we hope that others who saw, suspected or suffered sex crimes by ministers will step forward, get help, and start recovering. Thousands of deeply wounded victims continue to suffer each day in shame, silence and self-blame. It's important that they know that help is available and healing is possible. But it only happens when we find the courage to trust others, share our pain, and get counseling. When victims and witnesses speak up, there's at least a chance for healing, justice and prevention. But when we stay quiet, molesters go free and more kids get hurt. (SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We've been around for 19 years and have more than 8,000 members across the country. Despite the word "priest" in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including Protestant ministers. Our websites are SNAPnetwork.org and StopBaptistPredators.org) Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, 314-645-5915 home), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688), Christa Brown (512-217-1730). www.SNAPnetwork.org |