Pedophile priest on Nashville list left in ministry; victim tells her story 02-01-2019
For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Susan Vance, a leader of SNAP of Tennessee
Date: February 1, 2019
Phone: 865-748-3518
Email: susan8324@gmail.com
RemembertheSurvivors.com
HopeChronicles.org
Victim of Fr. James Arthor Rudisill tells her story
Bishop Edward Kmiec did nothing to help survivor after priest admitted molestation
Soon-to-be introduced Tennessee child sex abuse laws would have helped this victim and held her abuser accountable
"Pass these new laws to protect our children," advocates urge
Independent investigation by law enforcement also needed to determine full scope of abuse in Tennessee
Story found on HopeChronicles.org https://10afqfuiq4lj5l2k.vistaprintdigital.com/stories-james-rudisill
"I did not know about the list published in November," says a victim of Fr. James Arthur Rudisill. The priest's name appeared on the November 2, 2018 list of pedophile priests published by the Diocese of Nashville.
"When I was told by a friend that Rudisill had been identified as a pedophile, my response was a rush of tears. Why did it take so long? Why now? Why not in 1994 when I came forward?" says Jane Doe #1. "Why did I have to find this out accidentally? Why did the diocese of Nashville not call me personally to tell me that they finally believed me?"
Jane Doe's story is a study in why new laws are needed. A group of bipartisan Tennessee legislators are attempting to revise the statutes regarding child sexual abuse. If the proposed laws had been in place when Jane Doe came forward more than two decades ago, many things would have happened differently.
1. Bishop Kmiec and his Chancellor could have been charged with a felony for not reporting the abuse to the police.
2. Fr. Rudisill would be subject to criminal charges because there would be no statutes of limitation.
3. Jane Doe could also have pursued restitution for her injuries through the civil courts.
"This is the exact reason why we need new laws," says Susan Vance, a volunteer SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Leader in Tennessee. "We urge all citizens to ask their representatives to vote in these new protections for children."
Despite the release of names by the Diocese of Nashville, SNAP believes that until there is an independent law enforcement investigation in Tennessee, the full scope of the abuse will remain hidden. Sixteen states have launched such probes. The group hopes people will write to their attorney general and demand such an investigation.
About SNAP: We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others}. SNAPnetwork.org