Interesting Article from the Chicago Sun Times
Posted by Helen at 1/25/2008 8:20 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
The following is a letter from Barbara Dorris of SNAP. Please visit the link for some very interesting comments--especially the one from Pope Benedict XVI th on January 25 and the comment from Anne from Texas two posts below the Pontiff's post
Dear Friends,
My answer to the blog is below:
When will we see change? When will all this stop? The Catholic Church continues to move their pedophile priests to other unsuspecting parishes, and the innocent children are abused, their lives forever changed reliving their nightmare of clergy abuse.
My co-author, Curt Szajnecki and I have written a book about the same thing happening in a Methodist church. We've put together a workbook to help sound the alarm that this is happening in all denominations and must stop. The innocents are suffering every day and the churches seem to only look at their own bottom line. Where are the caring and compassionate clergy we've been taught to trust and respect?
We all need to shout out that we're not going to take this any more and call for legislative changes where the churches have to be held responsible for their destructive decisions. There is no accountability, and the churches that hide the predators and move them to continue their heinous crimes should have their tax-exempt status revoked. Why not fingerprint all clergy, as they do with teachers? Without background checks on clergy and fingerprinting, pedophiles are allowed to infiltrate the churches. Then the cover-up begins.
We join the help groups that aid those abused by clergy, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), Advocate Web, and The Hope of Survivors to call for changes in our churches to hold clergy responsible for their actions and make our churches the safe havens they should be.
Helen Wisocki
Dear Friends,
This
is an article from the Chicago Sun Times describing how those involved
in the Father Daniel McCormack case, a priest convicted of child sexual
abuse and currently serving time in prison, have been promoted rather
than disciplined for the part they played in both allowing McCormack to
continue to function as a priest even after they had knowledge of his
abusive behavior and in the resulting cover-up.
Please add a comment on the blog and/or write a letter to the
editor. The archdiocese's behavior in this case is particularly
egregious and the archdiocese needs to be held accountable.
This is a good chance to express your feelings on this reckless
behavior and educate people that this is not an isolated incident.
My answer to the blog is below:
When will we see change? When will all this stop? The Catholic Church continues to move their pedophile priests to other unsuspecting parishes, and the innocent children are abused, their lives forever changed reliving their nightmare of clergy abuse.
My co-author, Curt Szajnecki and I have written a book about the same thing happening in a Methodist church. We've put together a workbook to help sound the alarm that this is happening in all denominations and must stop. The innocents are suffering every day and the churches seem to only look at their own bottom line. Where are the caring and compassionate clergy we've been taught to trust and respect?
We all need to shout out that we're not going to take this any more and call for legislative changes where the churches have to be held responsible for their destructive decisions. There is no accountability, and the churches that hide the predators and move them to continue their heinous crimes should have their tax-exempt status revoked. Why not fingerprint all clergy, as they do with teachers? Without background checks on clergy and fingerprinting, pedophiles are allowed to infiltrate the churches. Then the cover-up begins.
We join the help groups that aid those abused by clergy, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), Advocate Web, and The Hope of Survivors to call for changes in our churches to hold clergy responsible for their actions and make our churches the safe havens they should be.
Helen Wisocki
It is no wonder that the abuse continues, when the perpetrators are rewarded for their sins.
I think your book should reside beside every hymnal in every church pew in the country. I am certain this goes on in every country in all churches.
It is too bad that this book isn't required reading for all parishioners before they can join a church and any who are already members.
Your workbook sounds like an important tool for all families and individuals. I hope people take this to heart, as it is a serious matter, and one that our society should be doing their utmost to change in every denomination.
As with most things, education is key, and you are doing a great service in trying to educate the masses on this subject. I can only hope people take advantage of your courageous offering before the same fate befalls them.
Zada Connaway, Author
Mother’s Journals: Parts 1, 2 and 3
ISBN # 1-4241-6969-0
http://www.freewebs.com/zadaconnaway/
Reply to this
Zada,
Thank you very much for your kind words of true Christan compassion. I think your comment about the book residing in every church pew really hit home with me. I could not agree with you more. I'm very, very sad to say that in my journey for help for my entire family there was no help book in the church pews for us. We actually ran away from the church in shock, but never dreamed they would not even speak to my family. It certainly would be a honor to someday have our book used as a ready reference guide of help to reduce the trauma for victims in all of our nations churches. If that is God's will, then so be it.
We're very proud to have the help centers that we've worked with over the years listed in the thank-you page of "Innocence Betrayed" to aid and assist current and future victims.
I agree that education leads to awareness, which becomes an important tool in times of uncertainly. Awareness leads to knowledge, which gives us the courage to report "red flag" issues to the proper authorities.
I also believe in life we must all choose to either be part of the problem, or part of the solution! The time for change is now! If not now, when? Thanks to everyone out there for all of your continued support!
Curt Szajnecki
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