CHRISTIAN CLERGY SEX ABUSE VICTIMS ON ARCHBISHOP'S RETIREMENT *** Jai Maharaj posts
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Clergy sex abuse victims on Cincy archbishop's retirement
SNAP CINCINNATI issues the following statement on the occasion of the
50th anniversary of the ordination of and pending retirement of
Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk:
The Cincinnati Chapter of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by
Priests - a self help group for those sexually abused by Catholic
priests and other religious authority figures) sees the retirement of
Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk as good news and as no news.
The 'good news' is that the man who enabled, permitted, facilitated,
covered up, agreed with, and conspired to allow hundreds of
Cincinnati and Dayton area children and teenagers to be sexually
abused by criminals under his own supervision is leaving active
service, and will no longer be the chief decision maker when it comes
to dealing with the scandal that he himself admitted was his most
challenging matter during his tenure as the region's top Catholic
official (1982-2009). Sadly, his legacy does not go away with him, as
the victims and survivors of the sexual abuse that occurred during
his reign are unable to have the horrifying crimes committed against
them undone. The apology he issued during his recent anniversary
celebration mass is insufficient and insulting to the many victims
and survivors who were left behind as Pilarczyk cowardly hid behind
Ohio's woefully obsolete, predator-friendly statutes of limitations
in his own defense. His offering of crumbs to his victims, and the
fact that he the criminal (don't forget his 2003 criminal conviction
on 5 counts of failure to report a crime) advocated that he alone be
allowed to determine his own punishment and method of contrition, fly
in the face of the concept of Christian forgiveness. His suggestion
of prayers for those abused and his pleas for forgiveness for himself
from his constituents would be laughable if they weren't so hurtful.
He is attempting to go out on a high note, but those who have studied
his behavior and lack of compassion know the real legacy of Pilarczyk --
he is a discredited shepherd but a brilliant corporate chief
executive officer.
The 'no news' is that sadly little has changed. His successor Dennis
Schnurr has shown no kindness nor reached out to victims in any
public manner since his arrival in town as Archbishop in waiting. He
has thumbed his nose at his constituents by purchasing a very
expensive home at a time when several Catholic churches and schools
are hurting financially, inner city parishes are being closed, and
many victims and survivors are left to deal with lifelong scars all
by themselves, without the financial assistance they need to afford
the proper treatments and therapies they need to heal properly.
Pilarczyk and Schnurr apparently know better than professional
counselors, psychologists, and therapists what clergy sex abuse
victims need to heal. Promises of fingerprinting, background checks,
and training are not enough to keep kids safe in the future.
Accountability gives these things credibility, and until those who
have allowed and continue to allow the bad guys a safe haven, the no
news is that there remains no credibility within the walls of the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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