SNAP Calls for Diocese to Release Clergy Abuser Names

A group representing people abused bypriests is calling for the Catholic Diocese of Savannah to publiclyrelease the names of abusive priests. This afternoon, SNAP, theSurvivors' Network of those Abused by Priests, took their message tothe steps of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. They're starting alocal self-help group for anyone molested by clergy members from anydenomination.

Mark Wells spent the afternoon carrying a signfor his best friend. He said his friend was abused by Wayland Brown, aformer Savannah priest. Brown was arrested in June 2002. He was servingtime for abusing a 12 year old boy almost 30 years ago in Maryland. Thevictim said the abuse happened between 1973 and 1975 during a summertrip to Savannah.

"It ruined his life," said Wells, wipingaway tears. "Now he's getting his life back. For someone to have thatkind of power and authority over a child and to take advantage of achild that way is -- it's got to be stopped."

"Our goal is tohelp survivors, but also equally importantly, protect children," saidAnn Brentwood, the southeast regional director for SNAP.

Brentwood said people need to know who the abusers are, where they are and what their status is.

"Whathappens is, because of the statue of limitations, they don't go on anyregistry," she said. "They're never prosecuted for the most part.Wayland Brown is an exception."

A spokeswoman for the Dioceseof Savannah told WTOC they have complied with the openness andtransparency provisions of the Charter for the Protection of Childrenand Young People that was adopted by the U.S. Bishops in Dallas, Texasin 2002. To learn more, go the www.diosav.org or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/

For more information about SNAP, see www.snapnetwork.org.

Reported by: Liz Flynn, lflynn@wtoc.com