March 31, 2004
 
 

Dear Bishop Brom,

Concentration camp survivor, Elie Wiesel, could have been referring to today’s clergy abuse scandal when he said, “Let us remember, what hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.”  This is one of many letters that we in SNAP (Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests) have written to you on behalf of clergy abuse survivors. Your silence and absence insults and further betrays Catholics, who you serve and needlessly keeps children at risk of abuse in the church.

Please help us to reach out to all Rodrigue’s victims. Out of more than 150 victims that Fr. Edward Anthony Rodrigue has admitted to molesting, only 20 have actually come forward and filed lawsuits. What have you done to find the others and work towards their healing?  There were numerous complaints made very early in Fr. Rodrigue’s ministry.   This transfer history shows that diocesan officials’ responded passively to his molest pattern.  Furthermore, after Rodrigue’s first conviction, he was not laicized.  Why not?

More recently, when Margaret Schettler came forward about one of the most notorious pedophile ever to work in S.D. and S.B. counties, who was known by everybody as Father Tony, and who had twice been criminally convicted and is currently serving time, the S.B. Diocese denied knowing who he was.  Her correspondence with the San Diego diocese corroborates that the cover up continues to the present.
 
We urge you to do the following to help reach out to Tony Rodrigue’s victims and protect children as risk of abuse in the church:

--Go personally to every parish where Rodrigue has been and urge victims and Catholics who know of or suspect abuse to contact criminal authorities.
--Post SNAP notices about our confidential support group in all parish bulletins where Rodrigue was assigned.  Even basic information such as the SNAPnetwork.org would be a step to reach one hurting, isolated victim and help him or her find support and healing.
--Confirm that you have turned over all personnel files on Rodrigue to prosecutors and join with survivors in the search and rescue of other victims.
 
 

The following information about the California bishops is present on internet:

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/resources/resource-files/databases/DallasMorningNewsBishops.htm

http://www.survivorsfirst.org/dbindex.a-l.html

California bishops have stood by as silent bystanders, allowing clergy to abuse children.  Again, we urge you to extend your support towards reaching out to survivors and others affected by these horrible crimes.
 
 

Sincerely,
 
 
 

Dr. Jaime J. Romo, San Diego SNAP spokesperson
(760) 519-0823;  sdsnap@cox.net.