For immediate release:
June 28, 2004

For more information:
Landa Mauriello-Vernon, CT State Director, 203-687-8072 cell
David Clohessy, National Director, 314-566-9790 cell

Victims group questions Bishop's communion policies
Statement by Landa Mauriello-Vernon, SNAP CT State Director

With all of the discussion in the past weeks by the United States bishops regarding who should and shouldn't be receiving communion, there is a basic question that needs to be asked. What is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops policy on abusive priests and other clergy, and those who intentionally harbored them, on receiving communion?

According to the bishops, each bishop may choose how to handle the communion issue regarding pro-choice politicians and those who vote for them. What about withholding communion from priests, nuns, and other clergy that sexually abuse children and vulnerable adults?

What about refusing communion to their brother bishops who were complicit in the abuse?

After all, the "rape of the soul" that occurs when a religious figure sexually abuses a child or vulnerable adult must be considered to be the utmost betrayal of hope, faith, and trust. Not only to the victim of abuse, but to the families and friends who deserved much better from their religious leaders.

Why are the bishops so focused on turning outward to criticize something that is a law when they should be turning inward to fix a criminal issue in their midst? If they are going to pass a policy on receiving communion, it should be focused on their own.

The bishops should be rising up in outrage, but not to deny politicians who are voted for by the people as our leaders, but to tell the Pope that they will not stand for promotions, such as Cardinal Law's plum promotion to his Italian basilica. And, if they feel the need to decide who should and shouldn't receive communion, they should look at the bible for inspiration. For in Matthew 18:5-6 it says, "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones, which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

For more information:
David Clohessy, St. Louis, National Director, 314-566-9790 cell
Landa Mauriello-Vernon, Hamden, CT State Director, 203-687-8072 cell

SNAP is a volunteer self-help organization of over 5,000 survivors of sexual abuse and their supporters. We work to end the cycle of abuse in two ways. The first and foremost goal of SNAP is to support one another in personal healing. All survivors travel a road to recovery and it is a road that is easier traveled with friends and supporters. SNAP provides support and advocates for the survivor in their time of need. Our second goal is to pursue justice and institutional change by holding perpetrators and those who protected them accountable. www.snapnetwork.org