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Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
| ***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 26, 2002***
HOPES FOR PROSECUTION OF CLERGY ABUSE CRIMES BEGIN TO FADE Contact was made yesterday with a representative of the D.A.'s Task force which is currently engaged in the investigation of possible clergy abuse crimes within its' jurisdiction. Previous contact with the District Attorney's office has been made for the exprssed purpose of obtaining assistance or referrals in order to be of greater assistance to victims of abuse and to learn of those in local law enforcement to whom victims need to contact for obvious reasons and purposes. Those contacts were approriate as law enforcement agencies in other California jurisdictions were and ARE active in a visible way in working with other SNAP chapters and other organizations to assist victims in the reporting and prosecution of sex abuse-related crimes. In those previous contacts SNAP was informed that the District Attorney was satisfied with the protocol being employed to investigate allegations of clergy sexual abuse of minors and obtain necessary files and information. We were also previously informed that the District Attorney's office was confident that the files and information being obtained was sufficient for them to pursue their goals and expressed optimism that those goals would be met. In the most recent contact with The District Attorney's office that
past optimism has since faded.
1. That there is an apparent conflict between the mandated reporting laws in place and the criminal statute (803g) which allows for the prosecution of those charged with the sexual abuse of a minor. According to the information received by the District Attorney's office, the mandated reporting laws DO NOT require the Catholic Diocese to report to law enforcement any allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor if that victim is now an adult. In essence, it appears that the mandated reporting laws on sexual abuse crimes are undermining the criminal statute (803g) which allows for the prosecution of those same crimes. 2. To give evidence to this conflict, the District Attorney's office also confirmed what SNAP has long suspected and knows to be factual. At the present time, the Catholic Diocese IS NOT reporting those allegations of abuse to law enforcement if the alleged victim is now an adult and is not encouraging the victim to do so either. The District Attorney informed SNAP that while this practice may not be the "moral" thing to do, the Catholic Diocese is on solid legal ground for not having done so. We find it distressing (though not surprising) that the Catholic Diocese of San Diego is taking such a strict and narrow "legalistic" approach to such grave matters and by doing so, is disregarding what it preaches to its' own members and to the public at large, "moral conduct and responsibilty". 3. The District Attorney's office informed SNAP that contrary to past expectations, victims of clergy sexual abuse ARE NOT coming forward as they are in other jurisdictions. A primary reason given for this lack of initiative on the part of victims
is fear. Fear of shame. Fear of judgement. Fear of ridicule. Fear of backlash..
4. The District Attorney's office informed SNAP that many local civil attorneys representing victims of clergy sexual abuse are actually advising their clients NOT to report their abuse to local law enforcement agencies as well. According to the District Attorney's office, the reasons given for this is the apparent concern on the part of civil attorneys that they would be placing themselves at risk for formal admonishment over conflicts which exist between civil vs. criminal representation of clients. As a result of this information given by the local District Attorney's Office, The Survivor's Network Of Those Abused By Priests (SNAP) makes the following plea to all parties concerned, involved and affected by sexual abuse crimes: To Victims Of Abuse we wish to assure you that you are NOT alone. Support for you and your loved ones is available. Please contact us. Let us help. We call upon the Catholic Diocese of San Diego to honor its' own calling of moral responsibilty and conduct by not only reporting to law enforcement ALL allegations of sexual abuse of minors present or past but to encourage those victims who come to them for help to do the same. We call upon local law enforcement to follow the example of law enforcement agencies in other California jurisdictions and take a more active and public role in encouraging victims of abuse to come forward; assuring them of your willingness to be of assistance and by doing so, honor your professed commitment to "Serve & Protect". We call upon those civil attorneys who are currently representing victims of sexual abuse to publicly step forward and give a greater clarification for your reasons for advising clients NOT to report abuse to local law enforcement or the District Attorney. We ask that the District Attorney also take a more visible and public role in fulfilling its' mission by urging victims of sexual abuse to come forward and assuring them of its' support for them. We also ask the office of the District Attorney to reconsider its' current "protocol" of investigation of sexual abuse crimes against minors in the context of its' task force to do so. It is our concern that this "protocol" in effect, has established a "special relationship" between two organizations. One elcted to serve and protect the public at large, the other a private non-secular institution which has been shown in recent times to have done the opposite. It is also our valid concern that such a special relationship or protocol is contingent upon a unique trust or confidence in the leadership of an organization who has been responsible for the destruction of the very same in so many in a criminal fashion. There is no special protocol or relationship in effect between the District
Attorney and victims of abuse. Nor should there be one with any institution
who employs those under investigation for criminal acts against a minor.
Local Contact:
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