http://home.catholicweb.com/diosteubsr/files/Pages_5-8_Dec_26.pdf

THE STEUBENVILLE REGISTER DEC. 26, 2008

Letters to the Editor

My name is Judy Jones. I am the SNAP director of Southeastern
Ohio, (Survivors Network of Those Abused by
Priests). I am responding to your article posted in the
Dec.12th issue of the Steubenville Diocese Register, “We
dare not become complacent,” says South Dakota bishop
on abuse.
I have been working with survivors of clergy abuse for
over five years now, and I have found the need for understanding
and acceptance of those who have been sexually
abused in the Steubenville Diocese.
The one thing I hear over and over again from victims
is: “I do not ever want another child to go through what
I have endured.”
The other thing that I hear from victims is: The diocese
could help victims to feel validated and a bit of justice if
they would post the names of all clergy, ( dead or alive )
who have credible allegations against them, on the
Steubenville Diocese Web site. This would alert other
victims who are still suffering in silence that they are not
alone, plus it would also alert parents to be aware that
there have been accusations against certain priests. This
would be the one way to expose those who might still be
a danger to kids, especially since the statute of limitations
so often prevents so many victims from taking their
perpetrators to court.
I acknowledge this article from Bishop Blase J. Cupich,
and I believe that he is right to ask others to give their
suggestions on how to keep kids safe.
Those who have already been abused by clergy are the
best ones to give you their suggestions. They know the
warning signs, and they know exactly how their perpetrator
manipulated and groomed them as kids, to be their
victims of abuse.
Judy Jones
SNAP director Southeastern Ohio
Editor’s Note: In contacting the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops Office of Safety of Child and
Youth Protection, director, Teresa Kettelkamp, no statistics
were available on the number of dioceses which publish
such a list of clergy. It was stated only a few do.

The Steubenville Register
Biweekly publication of the Diocese of Steubenville
P.O. Box 160 422 Washington St.
Steubenville OH 43952-5160
e-mail: register@diosteub.org
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jward@diosteub.org
Renee Wnek, Staff Writer
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