Survivors of abuse want to speak at parishes

We are supporters, family members and survivors of sex abuse by clergy within the Steubenville Diocese.

We are writing this letter to Bishop R. Daniel Conlon, asking him to invite survivors and their family members to speak at your parishes. We are also writing this letter to every priest who works in the Steubenville Diocese, asking all of you to do the same. We hope someone will respond with an acceptance of this offer and invite us to speak to your parishioners.

There are benefits to survivors in this request. Speaking and telling our stories is extremely healing for survivors of sexual abuse and for their family members. Some of the worst harm for victims has been the secrets, rejection, and the attitude that this should not be talked about.

By speaking and telling our stories of abuse and how it has affected our lives, you and your parishioners will be more able to accept and understand who we are, what we are about, and how to handle victims of sexual abuse and those family and friends affected by their abuse.

In an address to Irish bishops, Pope Benedict said “The wounds caused by such acts run deep, and it is an urgent task to rebuild confidence and trust where these have been damaged. In your continuing efforts to deal effectively with this problem, it is important to establish the truth of what happened in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again, to ensure that the principles of justice are fully respected and, above all, to bring healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes.” We urge you to listen to Pope Benedict and take action toward healing these wounds.

We also believe we can help. We have been successful in stopping this horrible crime which is so harmful to so many innocent kids and vulnerable adults. We can show you how to protect our children of today. We can tell you how to be alert to the manipulating behaviors of predators and we can let you know about the grooming process that most all sexual predators use to get through the natural defenses of their victims. We have a good idea about how to protect kids, after all we were kids who were victims of these predators.

Bishop Conlon and priests of the Steubenville diocese, you have been silent and unresponsive to our previous requests. We are asking you again to be acknowledged, and we are asking all of you to please support us, and please let us speak to your parishes. This will be the most healing form of outreach you can make to close the gap between us.

Please, we ask that you respond.

Thank you.

Judy Jones, SNAP Director Southeastern Ohio

Helen Schoeppner, SNAP Director Steubenville

Karen Nagy, Steubenville, supporter of Steubenville Diocese survivors

Betty Glynn, Phoenix, Ariz. (relative of many Steubenville survivors)

Carol Zamonski, Columbus, Steubenville Diocese survivor

Teresa Ball, Steubenville Diocese survivor

and 19 others