Ex-Nun Calls for RICO Investigation of Catholic Church
Bishops in the Catholic Church have fought vigorously at the local level against legal efforts to make them accountable. They now must be investigated at the federal level.
Westbrook, ME (PRWEB) June 19, 2004 -- Sixty-one year old ex-nun, Pauline Salvucci, is calling on the Federal Government to begin a RICO investigation of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.
Salvucci said, "The church did not make, as it claims, 'mistakes in management' by shuffling its clerical predators from parish to parish. Bishops made deliberate and determined decisions to protect sexual predators and leave thousands and thousands of children at risk. Furthermore, they deceived and lied to the parents of these children, telling them that they would take care of the problem. They didn't. They simply added to their suffering by moving priest predators to other parishes - repeatedly - sometimes for more than 30 years. These transfers gave clerical abusers ample opportunity to continue to abuse other children - and abuse they did."
Bishops talk about cleaning up their act, and simultaneously speak as if the church sexual abuse crisis is over. It isn't. While some local prosecutors have made efforts to bring bishops to justice and accountability, local efforts will not, and frankly can not, deal with the enormity of this problem on a national level. Since the Catholic Church has fought vigorously at the local level against legal efforts to make them accountable, they must be investigated at the federal level.
Salvucci said, "This tragedy was not the result of one incompetent bishop. It was the result of the determined and systematic efforts by many, if not most bishops, to cover up crimes by their priests - and even by themselves.
The church has not reformed itself. The tragedy of this abuse and the church's resistance to legal accountability is not just a matter for the churchs internal business nor is it a matter related to religious faith or belief. It is a matter of accountability and bringing to justice those bishops who not only knowingly enabled criminal activity but also conspired to cover it up. The bishops have acted as members of a corrupt organization."
Salvucci is calling on Catholics, former Catholics and non-Catholics to join The RICO Campaign for Survivor Justice and target specific Federal government officials, including President George W. Bush, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Secretary of State Colin Powell, FBI Director Robert Mueller and the House and Senate Chairmen of the Judiciary Committee demanding a RICO investigation.
Salvucci's Web site, Voices of Outrage: Wheres the Justice? http://www.voicesofoutrage.com focuses on the sexual abuse scandals and has additional information about The RICO Campaign for Survivor Justice.
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