Child molestation suits stopped; Clergy sex abuse victims respond

Tag: usa

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)

This renewed legal challenge by Catholic officials to a wise Delaware public safety law recklessly endangers kids, protects predators and delays justice, healing and closure for public school victims. It’s another painful reminder that the church hierarchy remains primarily committed to protect itself rather than children.

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For years now, the Delaware Child Victims Act has proven to be an effective tool to safeguard kids and ‘out’ child molesters, especially those shrewd and determined ones who have hidden their crimes until criminal statutes of limitations have expired.

It’s bad enough when Catholic employees put Catholic kids in harm’s way. It’s worse when they likewise jeopardize all kids. When will church supervisors honor the US justice system and let deeply wounded child sex abuse victims use the courts to expose predators, prevent crimes, and heal themselves?

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 22 years and have more than 9,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, 314-645-5915 home), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Peter Isely (414-429-7259), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell)

http://www.delawareonline.com/article...buse+suits

Judge halts teacher sex abuse suits

By RANDALL CHASE • Associated Press • May 26, 2010

DOVER — A judge today halted child sexual abuse lawsuits against several Delaware school districts pending a state Supreme Court ruling on a law allowing such lawsuits to be filed.

Kent County Superior Court Judge William Witham Jr.'s order involves suits against the Capital, Red Clay, Brandywine and Christina school districts.

Witham ordered that the lawsuits by stayed until the state Supreme Court rules on an appeal from a separate lawsuit involving the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a Catholic religious order. The school districts, like the Oblates, have challenged the constitutionality of a 2007 law that created a two-year window in which lawsuits previously barred by the passage of time could be filed by victims of alleged child sexual abuse."

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
www.snapnetwork.org

Tag: snap

http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_state...espond.htm