Survivors of Clergy Sex Abuse by Priests Hold Vigils in 30 U.S. Cities on March 13th-14th, 2010

UPDATE: Clergy sex group holds vigils and distributes leaflets in over 30 US cities
Details including exact addresses and times included below
They express “sorrow” for victims overseas Catholic scandal is “erupting” in 4-5 European nations
“It’s a global crisis demanding a secular solution,” organization says SNAP:
“Governments should do independent inquiries, like Ireland has,”
Victims urge everyone who “saw, suspected or suffered clergy crimes to “speak up.”
WHAT
Holding signs, candles, and childhood photos at sidewalk vigils in over 30 US cities, clergy sex abuse and their supporters will react tothe growing Catholic sex scandal in Europe. Specifically, they will– express their sorrow for the pain of victims in Germany, Ireland, Austria and
The Netherlands,– praise those victims for starting to speak up in large numbers in recent weeks, and– urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes to call police (not bishops).They will also urge governmental officials – in the US and Europe – to– conduct independent probes into cover ups of clergy sex crimes in Catholic schools and dioceses, and– reform archaic, arbitrary, “predator-friendly” laws that protectpedophiles and supervisors who employ, hide and transfer them.

WHEN Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 (See exact times and locations below)

WHERE In front of chanceries, cathedrals, churches and government buildings in CA, CT, DC, FL, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NY, OH,PA, RI, TX, and WI. (See details below.)
WHO Clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP,the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org),along with their loved ones and concerned Catholics

DETAILS:
Just hours ago, reports out of Germany claim the Pope himselfknowingly allowed a predator priest to remain in ministry, where atleast one other child was abused.A few weeks ago, Vatican officials were forced to address the clergysex abuse and cover up crisis that is spreading like wildfire acrossEurope. Scores of media accounts are appearing and hundreds of victimsare coming forward in Germany, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands.Just yesterday, the Pope met with the head of the German Catholic church over scandals breaking there. In Italy, law enforcement wiretapshave revealed charges of a gay prostitution ring using at least oneseminarian and operated by two Vatican insiders. The Pope’s brother is embroiled in a controversy over accusations of sexual abuse in awidely-known church choir which he headed for 30 years. In Ireland and The Netherlands, the Catholic hierarchy is planninginternal surveys about the numbers of predator priests. But American victims feel independent in investigations by secular authorities (as was done in parts of Ireland and in the US by several grand juries) are much more likely to expose the corrupt church leadership and to deter future recklessness, callousness and deceit. German and Austrian church officials are talking about revamping their internal child sex policies. But US victims believe churchpolicies are essentially meaningless and that it’s much more effective to reform outdated secular laws which bishops exploit to escape responsibility for hiding and moving predators.
Two weeks ago, the AP reported “While the focus of the sex abusescandal in the Catholic church centered on the United States for several years, abuse scandals have in recent years (also) erupted inthe Philippines, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Canada and elsewhere.”Exact locations and times of
List of Vigils of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests are listed below:
CA - Rancho Mirage, Sunday, March 14 at 3:00 PMWhitewater Park, 71-560 San Jacinto Drive (Major Cross streets are HWY 111 & Bob Hope Drive) Contact: Dave Price, 760-219-3635
CA – Los Angeles, Sunday, March 14 at 10:45 AMCathedral of Our Lady of Angels, 555 W. Temple St (at N Grand) Contact: Carlos Perez, 818-723-8016
CA – Oakland, Sunday, March 14 at 12:00 PMThe Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison Street (Between 21st & Grand) Contact: Melanie Sakoda, 925-708-6175
CA – San Diego, Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 12:30 PMCathedral of St. Joseph, 1535 Third (corner of Third and Beech) Contact: Paul Livingtson, 619-677-7133
CA – San Francisco, Sunday, March 14 at 9:00 AMSt. Mary Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street (Between Ellis & Geary) Contact: Melanie Sakoda, 925-708-6175,
CT – Hartford, Sunday, March 14 at 11:30 AM St. Joseph Cathedral, 140 Farmington Ave (corner of Farmington and Sigourney) Contact: Beth McCabe, 860-335-8187 & Kathy Rector, 860-384-4372
DC – Washington, Saturday, March 13 at 6:30 PMIrish Embassy, 2234 Massachusetts Ave. N. WE Contact: Becky Ianni, 703-801-6044 & David Lorenz, 301-906-9161DC –
Washington, Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 PM German Consulate, 4645 Reservoir Rd. NW Contact: Becky Ianni, 703-801-6044 & David Lorenz, 301-906-9161
FL – Miami, Sunday, March 14 at 10:30 AMSt. Mary’s Cathedral, 7525 NW 2nd Ave Contact: Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003
FL – Orlando, Sunday, March 14 at 11:45 AMSt. James Cathedral, 215 N Orange Ave. (at Robinson St.) Contact: Robert Keane, 386-676-0298
FL – Palm Beach Gardens, Sunday, March 14 at 1:30 PMSt. Ignatius Cathedral, 9999N Military Trail Contact: Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003
FL – St. Augustine, Sunday, March 14 at 11:45 AMCathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine, 38 Cathedral Place Contact: Kristine Ward, 937-272-0308
FL – Venice, Saturday, March 13 at 4:15 PMEpiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Ave West Contact: Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003
IL – Chicago, Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 PMGerman Consulate, 676 N. Michigan Contact: Barbara Blaine, 312-399-4747IL –
Chicago, Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 PMHoly Name Cathedral, 730 N Wabash
Contact: Therese Albrecht, 708-263-3050
IL – Peoria, Sunday, March 14 at 11:15 AM The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 607 NE Madison Avenue (at Hancock St) Contact: Jeff Jones, 815-985-9441
IL – Rockford, Sunday, March 14 at 10:00 AMSt. Peter Cathedral, 1243 N. Church St. Contact: Kate Bochte, 630-768-1860
IL – Springfield, Sunday, March 14 at 9:30 AMImmaculate Conception Cathedral, 241 E. Lawrence Contact: Jeff Jones, 815-985-9441
IN – Fort Wayne, Saturday, March 13 at 6:00 PMImmaculate Conception Cathedral, 1100 South Calhoun Contact: Therese Albrecht, 708-263-3050
IN – South Bend, Sunday, March 14 at 9:30 AMSt. Matthew, 1701 Miami Street Contact: Therese Albrecht, 708-263-3050
KY – Louisville, Saturday, March 13 at 5:15 PM to 6:45 PMCathedral of the Assumption, 433 S. 5th St. (between Muhammed Ali and Liberty) Contact: Colleen Powell, 502-479-0246
MA – Boston, Saturday, March 13 at 1:30 PMFederal Building, 55 New Sudbury St. Contact: Ann Webb, 617-513-8442 & Robert Costello, 781-414-1178
MD – Baltimore, Saturday, March 13 at 12:30 PMOffice of the Chancellor, 320 Cathedral Street Contact: Dave Lorenz, 301-906-9161 & Frank Dingle
MI – Detroit, Sunday, March 14 at 10:30 AMBlessed Sacrament Cathedral, 9844 Woodward Ave Contact: Barbara Blaine, 312-399-4747
MO – Columbia, Sunday, March 14 at 11:30 AMSt. Thomas More Newman Center, 701 Maryland Ave., (corner of Turner Ave.)Contact: Judy Jones, 636-433-2511
MO – St. Louis, Sunday, March 14 at 6:00 PMSt. Louis Cathedral, 4431 Lindell (corner of Lindell and Newstead)Contact: Peggy Fitzpatrick, 314-845-9438
NC – Charlotte, Saturday, March 13 at 5:00 PMSt. Patrick’s Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road, EastContact: David Fortwengler, 704-562-4529
NY – New York, Sunday, March 14 at 10:00 AM – 11:00 AMSt. Patrick’s Cathedral, 5th Ave. & 49th St. Contact: Mary Caplan, 917-439-4187 & Glen Echevarria, 646-763-4260
OH – Columbus, Sunday, March 14 at 11:15 AM-12:30 PM Across the street from St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral, 212 E Broad St Contact: Carol Zamonski, 614 447-2084
OH – Dayton, Sunday, March 14 at 11:45 AMSt. Joseph’s Church, 200 2nd St. Contact: Ginny Hoehne, 973-726-9360
OH –Toledo, Sunday, March 14 at 12:00 PMHoly Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Ave Contact: Barbara Blaine, 312-399-4747
PA – Philadelphia, Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 PM – 1:30 PMSt. Charles Borromeo Seminary, 100 E Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood, PA 19096 Contact: Karen Polesir, 267-992-9463
RI – Providence, Saturday, March 13 at 11:00 AMCathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, One Cathedral Square Contact: Ann Barrett Doyle, 781-439-5208 & Ann Webb, 617-513-8442
TX – San Antonio, Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 PMSan Fernando Cathedral,115 Main Plaza Contact: Barbara Boehland, 210-725-8329
WI – Madison, Saturday, March 13 at 9:45 AMDiocese of Madison- Pastoral Center, 702 South High Point Road (at Donofrio Dr.) Contact: David Clohessy, 314-566-9790
CONTACT Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003), David Clohessy (314-566-9790), Peter Isely (414-429-7259)