For i mmediate release:
July 31, 2008

Sex abuse victims respond to new MA Supreme Court ruling

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)

We are grateful that the court has interpreted this child protection law broadly instead of narrowly. All too often those who harm or endanger kids escape responsibility for their crimes by exploiting legal technicalities and successfully splitting hairs.

This is a common sense ruling that will help deter future recklessness and help protect children. We applaud the court for siding with the vulnerable over the powerful.

(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 17 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 nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

Contact David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, 314-645-5915 home), Peter Isely (414-429-7259) Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688), Mary Grant (626-419-2930), Mark Serrano (703-727-4940)