Clergy sex-abuse backlash. (News).WASHINGTON -- Now that the stream of breaking news of clergy sex abuse has slowed to a trickle, some accused priests have been moved to fight back. "Sexual abuse of children by a priest is a horrible crime," Father Robert J. Silva, president of the 25,000-member National Federation of Priests Councils, told the Washington Post. "At the same time, there is a different crime, the crime of defamation defamation In law, issuance of false statements about a person that injure his reputation or that deter others from associating with him. Libel and slander are the legal subcategories of defamation. Libel is defamation in print, pictures, or any other visual symbols. of character, to which priests are particularly vulnerable at this time." Priests in at least five dioceses--Cleveland, Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (1990 pop. 444,719), state capital, and seat of Oklahoma co., central Okla., on the North Canadian River; inc. 1890. The state's largest city, it is an important livestock market, a wholesale, distribution, industrial, and financial center, and a farm , Tulsa, St. Louis, and Orange County, California--have filed civil suits against their accusers. Priests in Boston, Detroit, and Miami who have been affected by the zero tolerance The policy of applying laws or penalties to even minor infringements of a code in order to reinforce its overall importance and enhance deterrence. Since the 1980s the phrase zero tolerance has signified a philosophy toward illegal conduct that favors strict imposition of policy--a policy adopted by the U.S. bishops last June but not a part of canon law--are threatening to sue bishops for violating their employment rights. Leaders of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, is the oldest and most active support group for women and men abused by religious authority figures in the US. It is an independent, non-profit organization with no connections with any churches. (SNAP) sent a letter to U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops president Wilton Gregory, saying such lawsuits "directly contradict con·tra·dict v. con·tra·dict·ed, con·tra·dict·ing, con·tra·dicts v.tr. 1. To assert or express the opposite of (a statement). 2. To deny the statement of. See Synonyms at deny. what you and so many church leaders have repeatedly stressed: that you want victims to come forward and disclose their abuse." |
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