Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
680 West Peachtree Street. N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30308
September 9, 2005
Dear Archbishop:
If the protection of children and the transparency stated in the norms is the primary goal in order to regain credibility for the church, then an open, honest and forthright acknowledgement of diocesan status is mandatory. It is not adequate to simply state numbers.
We request that the names of all perpetrator priests be released with all pertinent related information including assignments, dates of abuse, status of the priests, disposition of cases, and present location of offending clergy.
Clergy sexual abuse is a crime and, as such, should be reported to law enforcement officials. Any determination of the credibility of an accusation must be established by the legal authority, not by any bishop.
With the established support groups of SNAP, we will continue to relate victims’ experiences in the search for truth. We will be unrelenting in our efforts to provide compassionate, caring concern to the many who have suffered such injustice. Because these crimes have been perpetrated by the church, anything less than the complete and full truth is unacceptable.
In summary:
Is 13 the correct number of perpetrating priests?
Who are these perpetrating priests?
What are their names (living or deceased)?
Where did they serve and when did they serve?
Why have the people not been notified about who they are and where they served?
Is it not the right of the people of the diocese, indeed of the whole state of Georgia, to know who these perpetrators are?
Have they been removed from ministry?
What is their present status and location?
Have any been defrocked?
Have any perpetrating priests been moved to other dioceses? Were these dioceses notified? Were the people of these other dioceses notified? Were the authorities notified?
How many allegations brought forward by victims were deemed noncredible by the past bishops and how many during your tenure?
Have all allegations brought forward by victims been heard by the diocesan review board?
Have all the allegations brought forward by victims been reported to authorities?
Is it your policy as bishop of Atlanta to allow all allegations to go before the review board? Was it the policy of your predecessor to allow all allegations to go before the review board?
Thank you for our consideration of these serious issues.
Sincerely,
Ann Brentwood, SNAP of Georgia, 3142 Harrington Court, Maryville, TN 37803 865-607-6119
Susan Vance, SNAP of Tennessee, 8324 South Burchfield Dr., Oak Ridge, TN 37830 865-748-3518