Abuse advocacy group says little changed among Catholic church leaders

Posted: Jul 30, 2012 8:45 AM EDT

Updated: Jul 30, 2012 8:45 AM EDT

A group that advocates on behalf of victims of clergy abuse is urging the Catholic church to move beyond the "smoke and mirrors."

More than 200 survivors met in Chicago over the weekend at the annual conference of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP. The group says the church needs to "stop the abuse, expel the abusers, cooperate with the courts and support the victims.

SNAP director David Clohessy say Catholic officials have adopted a lot of policies, procedures and set up panels that amount to "a lot of smoke and mirrors." Clohessy says it's "ironic and tragic" that secular institutions and authorities are more likely to take actions against child abusers than are officials in the Vatican.

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