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Victims advocates protested Sunday against the Vatican's opposition to a ''zero tolerance'' abuse rule for priests.
By MICHAEL SANDLER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 21, 2002
ST. PETERSBURG -- Unhappy with a Vatican decision to oppose "zero tolerance" rules aimed at removing priests accused of sexually abusing minors, a local victims advocacy group took its own message to area parishioners on Sunday.
Armed with picket signs and pamphlets, seven members of the Tampa Bay chapter of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) staked out the steps of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church during a morning Mass attended by a few dozen people.
Some protesters said they were victims of past sexual abuse by priests.
All said they were disappointed to learn that Pope John Paul II sent a letter to three top Roman Catholic leaders in the United States last week saying he will not support hard rules a group of bishops drafted during a meeting in June in Dallas.
The Vatican prefers a joint Vatican-U.S. commission to bring those rules more closely in line with church law.
"They've known about this problem for 20 years," local SNAP organizer Melissa Price said. "The time for commissions is over. You know there is a problem. Fix it!"
Price said the local chapter randomly chose the downtown Roman Catholic church with a mission of educating anyone willing to listen to their concerns.
When the Mass ended, the few parishioners attending filed out. Some took pamphlets.
"I don't agree with a lot of things the Vatican says," said Richard Severson of St. Petersburg. "I think we all have to make our own decision. If everybody is more aware, there is a good chance we can resolve the problem."
Jerry Klasen, who is visiting from Wisconsin, stopped by the church after Mass to say a few prayers.
He said his impression of the Vatican's decision is to ensure that priests get due process.
"I don't have a problem with that," Klasen said. "If (the decision was made to) protect priests against criminal prosecution, that's a different story. But everyone deserves due process."