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SNAPSteubenville Press Release and Letter to Bishop Conlon, December 6, 2007
For immediate release: Thursday, Dec. 6
For more
information: Judy Jones 636-433-2511, Helen Schoeppner
740-568-8213; David Clohessy 314-566-9790
Clergy sex abuse victims write Steubenville
bishop
They beg him to educate and warn church members
Group
feels some are violating privacy of recent victim who came forward
"Those
hurt by pedophile priests deserve compassion, not hostility," SNAP
says
For the second time in two weeks, a support group for clergy sex
abuse victims is asking an Ohio bishop to take more action about child sex abuse
allegations against a local Catholic priest.
Leaders of SNAP, the
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are writing to Bishop R. Daniel
Conlon about Fr. Gary Zalenski. SNAP is pleading with Conlon to help protect the
privacy of Zalenski's alleged victim.
On Nov. 17th, the bishop removed
Zalenski from active ministry because of a credible allegation that Zalenski had
sexually assaulted a minor in 1991.
But since that move, SNAP says, some
Catholics have written "mean spirited" letters in area newspapers and made
"insensitive, revealing" remarks on web blogs that "may have already violated
this victim's privacy."
"This disrespect and harshness has caused
great concern for supporters and survivors of sex abuse of southeastern Ohio,"
said SNAP leader Judy Jones. "We are begging Conlon to be a good shepherd,
protect the wounded, and warn his flock about respecting the privacy of
victims."
Last week, SNAP also wrote Conlon, criticizing him for waiting
at least two months before suspending Zalenski. In news accounts, Zalenski
claims he learned of the allegation on Sept. 12, more than two months before he
was suspended.
“This delay gave Zalenski plenty of time to intimidate
victims, threaten witnesses, destroy evidence and fabricate alibis,” said SNAP
co-leader Helen Schoeppner of Marietta. “It also left more kids vulnerable to
other sex crimes by Zalenkski.”
SNAP is also concerned about several
apparent gaps in Zalenski's work history. According to the Official Catholic
Director, Zalenski at least three times - 1984, 1992 and 1999
took what seem to be unexplained ‘leaves of absence'. Often, SNAP
leaders say, such ‘gaps’ indicate that a sexually troubled cleric was sent away
for ‘treatment.’
“Both of our concerns about Conlon’s delay and the
victim’s privacy are serious and remain un-addressed,” said Jones. “Harsh public
disregard for a victim’s confidentiality and feelings could well cause other
victims of Zalenski – or other predators - to stay silent.”
SNAP is the
nation's oldest and largest self help group for men, women and children who have
been sexually exploited and assaulted by clergy. Despite the word priests in
SNAP's name, the organization welcomes and helps anyone hurt by religious
figures in any denomination. The group's Southeastern Ohio chapter also has a
web site: SteubenvilleTruth.org
A
copy of SNAP's letter to Conlon, sent today by fax and e mail, is
below.
Dec. 6, 2007
Dear Bishop Conlon:
Our hearts
ache for the woman who was abused as a young girl by Fr Gary Zalenski. We
especially worry about her because a few individuals (most likely Catholics) are
not respecting her confidentiality and are saying mean-spirited, unsubstantiated
things about her in public.
We beg you to please warn church members
about the harm that is done when victims are treated harshly in public and
educate church members about why honoring victim's confidentiality is important
and morally right.
It is your duty as their Bishop to take this action,
especially since a few may have already violated this victim's privacy. In
letters to editors and on web blogs, some have already made statements and
claims that could further harm an already traumatized woman and could provide
enough information that others might figure out her identity.
Bishop
Conlon, as you must already know, it takes tremendous courage for a survivor of
sex abuse to come forward. They definitely do not need to be re-victimized and
re-abused by anyone. This person has been through enough.
Callous
disregard for victims' privacy also creates another problem. It scares and
intimidates other victims and witnesses into staying silent. This, in turn,
let's predators go undetected and makes further crimes possible.
Other
individuals who may have been abused by Fr Zalenski - or other predators (clergy
or non-clergy) - will hesitate to come forward and report their abuse if they
see individuals (especially church-goers) attack victims in public.
Please, for the sake of wounded victims and vulnerable kids, inform and
educate your parishioners about how to support an accused priest (if they like)
quietly, without disparaging accusers. Teach them that harsh public comments
about victims and alleged victims hurt everyone, and warn them to have respect
for the privacy of the victim.
You have considerable resources: a
diocesan web site, a diocesan newspaper, dozens of weekly parish bulletins and
employees and volunteers. Use these resources to create and foster a healthy
climate that welcomes, not punishes, those who report clergy sex crimes. To
passively sit back, and let others spread scurrilous rumors and personal
information about Zalenski's accuser, is to essentially endorse such unChristian
behavior.
Judy Jones, SNAP Leader Steubenville
17170 Deer Mountain
Rd.
Marthasville, Mo 63357
636-433-2511
SNAPSteubenville@hughes.net
Helen
Schoeppner , SNAP Co-leader Steubenville
103 Social Row
Marietta, Oh.
45750
740-568-8213
hjshep13@suddenlink.net
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