A network of clergy sexual abuse victims is speaking out. Members are demanding that the Bishop of the Memphis Catholic Diocese be punished.They're angry over recently opened court records which show the Diocese knew about assault allegations, but never made them public.
The documents show-- over a 50 year span-- 15 priests with the Memphis Catholic Diocese were accused of sexual misconduct.
Eyewitness News spoke to the Memphis Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. He says he knows first-hand the emotional damage that's been done.
When he was 15 years old, David Brown says he raped.
The abuse went on for six months at the hands of a catholic priest in Nashville.
“I knew it was wrong and I started crying and asking him why and he said ‘God knows my needs and he gave you to me.”
Brown says for decades, he tried to forget, until he saw a television interview with another victim of clergy sexual assault.
“It overwhelmed me. It all came back.”
Now a member of SNAP, Brown tries to offer understanding to abuse survivors. He also seeks acknowledgement from the church.
“It's not the stranger danger. It's the preacher predator. That's what we're talking about here” says Brown.
Brown believes the Memphis Catholic Diocese has acted irresponsibly.
Recently released court records suggest the church may have covered up allegations of abuse, moving accused priests around instead of getting rid of them.
“This is not an accounting mistake you make on your tax return. This is not blowing a red light. It's failing to take proactive measures to protect our children” says Brown.
We asked Diocese spokesperson Father John Geaney about the documents.
“When somebody is said to have allegedly committed sexual abuse, once the charge is proven a credible charge, that person is removed from ministry immediately” says Geaney.
Brown says he's skeptical of that.
“I want the whole bunch to resign.”
SNAP is asking the Pope to suspend Bishop Steib.
The Bishop is currently out of town, but Father Geaney says Steib has worked with police as well as the Tennessee Attorney General to investigate all allegations of abuse.
Members of SNAP say Thursday they were contacted by yet another victim.
He says he was abused by a priest at the Memphis Catholic Diocese, and finally had the courage to come forward.
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