TX--Diocese of Ft. Worth hides documents--SNAP asks why?
For immediate release Thursday, January 11, 2018
Statement by Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003, [email protected]
We applaud the courage and the wisdom of this brave survivor. He came forward and reported these horrific crimes and had the wisdom to work with the civil justice system. We hope he will inspire others to come forward, despite the actions of the Diocese of Fort Worth.
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article194079414.html
The public and Ft. Worth Catholics should ask Bishop Michael Olson and his lawyers a very important question. They say in their statement regarding the lawsuit that there is no objective evidence to substantiate Mr. Montgomery’s allegations of abuse. Yet, at the same time, the diocese asked the judge to seal all documentation in this case. Why? What do they want to hide? Jason Montgomery wants nothing but the truth. The Diocese of Ft. Worth wants nothing but to keep court records and evidence secret. Catholics have a right to know why.
It is time for Texas to reform its laws. In states such as California, evidence in civil child sex abuse cases must be made public so that victims have equal footing in the courts and that institutions that cover up abuse can be held accountable to the public they serve. Any time evidence of abuse is sealed, children are put at risk of further abuse. If the Diocese of Ft. Worth stood by its promises of transparency and Christianity, it would ask the court to lift the seal and release any and all evidence of child sexual abuse and cover-up in the diocese. They should do this in the name of public safety. Anything else is lip service.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
CONTACT
Melanie Sakoda 925-708-6175 [email protected], Joelle Casteix 949-322-7434, [email protected], or Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (314-503-0003, [email protected])
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director