Catholic bishops meeting in Baltimore this week are called to respond to the concerns of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.The organization known as "SNAP" wants a new national panel to investigate charges of sexual abuse lodged against bishops.
Gathering outside the meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, members and supporters of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests or SNAP, are asking for a change in the way sex charges are handled by the Catholic Church.
Theirs is a familiar voice in Maryland.
In 2006, SNAP members were active during the sentencing of Father Jerome Toohey, who admitted to molesting Thomas Roberts when he was a Calvert Hall high school student.
"You internalize it," Roberts said. "I internalized it for a long time."
In 2006, SNAP demanded an apology from Cardinal Keeler for the failure of the church to protect children. Francis Bacon was one of them.
"The fact is that I have let this happen," he said.
Two years later, his frustration has only grown.
"They're not being held accountable for their actions," Bacon said.
SNAP claims the church has failed to investigate child sex abuse allegations against 20 current and former bishops.
The group is also calling on the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to resign, but a conference spokesperson said he has the full confidence of the members and this is the first they've heard of a request for a national panel to investigate abuse by bishops.
None of the bishops accused of abuse has ties to Maryland. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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(Source: WJZ)