I had the great privilege of taking Jim Moran's pictures from the SNAP/BishopAccountability.org rally in Washington, DC on April 13th and making them into a video. I felt as if I had been there. The survivors holding pictures of those who have been abused is so powerful. Sometimes the pictures are of themselves because they are the survivors. Sometimes they are holding pictures of loved ones who were abused by clergy. Sometimes those dear ones have died, too often by their own hand. Thanks so much to all those who attended the rally for those of us who could not attend. I am so grateful to all of you. It was so cold, and you braved it with grace and dignity. Whatever other think of us, I can say that I am proud and happy to be in the presence of SNAP and BishopAccountability. It is an honor.Click here to see the video.
It is time to defrock all priests and bishops who are guilty of abusing children, teens, and vulnerable adults. Anthony O'Connell has admitted to the abuse of teenage boys. It's time to end his cushy life at Mepkin Abbey and defrock him so that he has to provide for his own existence as a civilian. One thing is for sure. O'Connell has fared far better than any of his victims. He has three meals a day, a safe place to live and peace. So many of his victims struggle daily for those bare essentials. Not to mention health care and freedom to come and go as he pleases. By the way, is anyone making sure he does not abuse again? That's what jails are for, and he has managed to allude his just punishment. Mepkin Abbey is no jail. I would say that Anthony O'Connell is living an easy life. Maybe there will be justice in the next life.
Here is a report on our Nashville event today at Holy Rosary Church. We definitely did a lot of speaking up, speaking out, and it did help us grow strong. We did something a little different from leafleting. We simply held signs before and after each Mass from a public place across the street from the church. We positioned our group where people could see us as they entered the church. Please see the blog from December 9th for all the reasons we were there. I guess that the most important thing was the fact that this parish had supported and encouraged a fundraiser for Paul St. Charles, a priest found guilty by the Memphis diocese and who is being defrocked. Victims and friends of victims at Holy Rosary were upset by this offensive action, and we were contacted. We believe that the support of victims demands a response to this brazon support of a pedophile. Our signs gave the messages that we wanted to give. The signs read as follows: "Support our children not the molesters." "Ask Father Choby to tell the truth about Paul St. Charles." "Please hear the voice of victims." "Support the victims not the abuser." We also had our usual SNAP sign with our website address and contact information. We started out with four of us there: Ann, Mike Coode, Betty Raby (our friend) and me. David Brown joined us a little later. We arrived at 7:15 a.m. and stayed until about 12:50 p.m. We were there before and after each mass. We let our signs speak for us, and this seemed to be good. The fact that so much misinformation is being passed around the parish was evident in such comments as "Paul St. Charles has been vindicated." Obviously the truth is not a high priority if that is what is being told to the people of the Nashville diocese. Here are the facts: 1.) Three active court cases in civil court. 2.)Multiple victims (we know of eight.) 3.) The diocese of Memphis found him guilty and is defrocking him (kicking him out of the priesthood.) Who is not telling the people the truth: the diocese of Nashville or the diocese of Memphis? or both? It was painfully cold outside, but we feel that this effort may be one of the best public education events that we have done. Many people were glad; some did not understand. All were asking questions and seeking the truth. That is what is most important. Thanks to the courageous lady who felt that truth had to be told. We were honored to help get that message of truth out to Nashville. Did they listen? If they are asking questions, then they certainly did listen. Maybe there will be truthful answers this time. --by Susan Vance
