http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new77_83200782858.asp

 
Friday, August 03, 2007
By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com


A survivors network for clergy sex abuse victims is forming a support group in Marietta, with a first meeting scheduled for later this month.

The meetings are sponsored by a Chicago-based organization called S.N.A.P., the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. S.N.A.P. is the nation’s oldest and largest self-help group for men, women and children who have been abused by clergy members.

Judy Jones, area S.N.A.P. leader, said at least 15 victims have come forward out of the Steubenville Diocese, which includes the Marietta area and southeast Ohio.

Jones said she fears there are many more victims. She said abuse in area Catholic churches has been uncovered from the 1940s until just recently.

“Many adults who were molested as kids are still trapped in shame and self-blame. They need and deserve help,” Jones said. “We have already had three support meetings and our attendance is growing, plus we continue to see more victims coming forward.”

The first meetings were held in Zanesville and Columbus.

Jones said she has had a hard time getting the information out about the meetings. She would like area churches to include the information in bulletins and calendars, but she said so far the diocese has not returned her calls.

Diocese Bishop Rev. R. Daniel Conlon was out of town and could not be reached for comment Thursday. The diocese does help support a statewide fund for sex abuse victims, said Pat DeFrancis, a church spokeswoman. She added the church regularly encourages any abuse victim to come forward.

“The bishop has assured me those victims will be treated with respect and compassion,” DeFrancis said.

S.N.A.P. member and Marietta resident Helen Schoeppner said the free and confidential meetings also are open to family members of victims. Schoeppner said she has a family member who was abused.

“It affects the entire family,” Schoeppner said. “Sometimes it is years before you understand what has been wrong. And you’ve been blaming yourself. Even when you begin to understand what was wrong, you blame yourself for not being there to protect against it.”

Schoeppner said clergy abuse is among the worst kind of abuse.

“These are people they were supposed to be able to look up to and trust,” she said. “It destroys the child’s mind and soul, and most lose faith in almost everything

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