Leading survivors & activists to react to safeguarding discussion at WMOF
Global survivors’ group to convene a news conference/panel shortly after the WMOF safeguarding session
News conference
will feature former member of Pope’s child protection commission who was removed for being too outspoken
WHEN
Availability begins at 12 Noon, Friday August 24. News conf/panel begins at approx. 12:15.
WHERE
Redwood Suite 4, Ballsbridge Hotel, Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
WHO
Six prominent survivor leaders and activists who are members of ECA (Ending Clergy Abuse), a global justice project aimed at holding the Catholic church accountable for ending clergy sex abuse. See details below.
WHAT
Prominent survivors from around the globe will gather at noon on Friday Aug 24 to react to the World Meeting of Families’ only session on safeguarding children, which is scheduled to occur Friday morning.
The WMOF session’s topic is “Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.” That panel features two former members and one current member of the Pope’s child protection commission.
It is
the three-day WMOF conference’s only discussion of clergy sex abuse, despite the re-ignited worldwide firestorm around the crisis.
At 12 noon, one hour after the end of the WMOF safeguarding discussion, a group of prominent survivors, activists and experts will convene.
The global response panel will react to the WMOF session. The noontime panel will also discuss why the church cannot guarantee the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults while also safeguarding clergy sex offenders and complicit bishops.
WHO - DETAILS
*Pete Saunders of the U.K., a survivor of clergy sex abuse, active member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors from 2014 to 2016. He was put on leave after publicly criticizing the Pope’s
retention of a complicit Chilean bishop and the cruel treatment of victims by Cardinal George Pell. Pete founded NAPAC, the National Association for People Abused in Childhood.
*Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, O.P. of the U.S., a Dominican priest and canon lawyer, renowned whistleblower who warned U.S. bishops in 1985. Tom has served as
expert witness in thousands of abuse cases worldwide.
*Mark Vincent Healy of Dublin, survivor of sexual abuse by two Irish priests, one of the first survivors to meet with Pope Francis
*Lieve Halsberghe of Belgium, leading activist and researcher whose work has brought several abusers to justice
*Matthias Katsch of Germany, a clergy sex abuse survivor, spokesperson for ECKIGER TISCH (Squared Table) and Member of the German Council of Survivors
*Peter Isely of the U.S., clergy sex abuse survivor, founding
member and former Midwest director (1992-2017) of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). Peter founded the world’s only in-patient hospital program for clergy sexual abuse survivors.
Media Contact
Peter
Isely
ECA Global Founding Member and Spokesperson, United States survivor.
peterisely@gmail.com, contactus@ecaglobal.org
+14144297259 (available GMT)
Lieve Halsberghe
ECA Assembly Member from Belgium
lievehalsberghe@gmail.com, contactus@ecaglobal.org
WHO WE ARE
Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) is a worldwide organization of survivors and human rights activists who compel the Roman Catholic Church to end clergy abuse, especially child sexual abuse, in order to protect children and to seek justice for victims. ECA assembly
members represent over 18 countries and 4 continents. http://ecaglobal.org - @ENDCLERGYABUSE - contactus@ecaglobal.org
