December 13, 2007

Response to National Review Board report

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)

Self-praise leads only to reckless complacency. And it rubs salt into the already deep and still fresh wounds of hurting victims and betrayed Catholics. When bishops take begrudging, belated steps that largely amount to 'window dressing,' this is no cause for celebration.

Training volunteers and fingerprinting employees and teaching children are primarily common sense legal defense moves and smart public relations gestures. Are they better than nothing? Of course. Do they solve the problem? Absolutely not.

The main cause of this on-going crisis remains untouched: the virtually limitless power of bishops. They still cover up child molestation because they can. The church always has been and still is a monarchy. Bishops answer to virtually no one, and experience no consequences when they shun victims, stonewall prosecutors, deceive parishioners.

We must reform archaic, predator-friendly laws that prevent victims from exposing predators in court. Until that happens, bishops will continue their long-standing secrecy and recklessness.