Statement Regarding Bridgeport, CT. Settlement Agreement

For immediate release:
Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Statement by Landa Mauriello-Vernon, victim of sexual abuse by a nun and CT State Director for SNAP

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

We hope that this settlement will help this wounded person take one step further toward healing and closure.

We commend him for having the courage to come forward, report the abuse, and prod church leaders toward change.

At the same time, we know that there is no sudden, magical "cure all" that erases years of pain, self blame, broken trust, shattered self confidence, ruptured faith, and the other horrific long term effects of childhoold victimization.

So we hope this victim will remain in therapy, self help groups, and any healing activity so that his recovery can continue.

We caution Catholics against reading more into this settlement than they should. Sadly, it is most likely a business decision by the church lawyers and accountants, designed in part to prevent evidence of cover ups from being presented in open court. We doubt that it signals any transformation or improvement in how church leaders really feel about and act toward abuse victims.

And, it will stop the deposition of Cardinal Egan.

Finally, we hope that this news will encourage others who are still trapped in silence and self-blame to report these crimes to police and prosecutors. We also hope they will turn to us for support.

The church, our state, and our world is safer only when victims find the strength and courage to come forward and report these crimes.