Survivors expectations High for Wednesday’s Anticipated Meeting with Pope Francis

Survivors who are leaders of victims’ organizations from around the world will be in attendance

WHAT

Five victims of clergy sexual abuse who are members of Ending Clergy Abuse, a global organization of prominent survivors and activists who are in Rome for this week’s papal summit, will be meeting at the Vatican Wednesday morning.  The group expects Pope Francis to attend the meeting. The meeting was arranged by the members of the papal summit planning committee.

WHEN

The group will first make remarks at a scheduled press conference at 10:30 a.m. then leave for the Vatican at 11:00 a.m. for the planned meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.  Members who are attending the meeting will be available for comment after the meeting.

WHERE

Press Conference — Countdown to Zero Tolerance. Foreign Press Room – Via dell’Umiltà, 83, 00187 Roma, 10:30 AM

Following ECA Members Meeting at the Vatican Commission – 11:30 AM – 12:30PM at Instituto Maria Bambina, Via Paolo VI, 21, 00120 – Città del Vaticano

WHO

Founding members from Ending Clergy Abuse (ECAglobal.org) an international association of prominent survivors of clergy abuse and activists including 5 survivors who are expected to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

WHY

The day before an historic papal summit on child sexual abuse, the Vatican has requested a meeting with survivors.  About a dozen victims have been asked to attend the meeting. Among them are five from the world’s only global survivors organization, Ending Clergy Abuse.  “We are fully expecting Pope Francis to be at this meeting,” said Denise Buchanan, ECA board member and survivor from Jamaica. “It’s confusing enough that this meeting was requested so late in the summit planning process, but we are grateful for the opportunity to share with the Pope what survivors around the world are expecting of him over the next few days.”

During the summit Francis will be spending four days in meetings with 190 bishops, among them the Presidents of every nation’s bishop’s conference.

“There are confusing reports of whether Francis will or will not attend the meeting,” according to Peter Isely, survivor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  “But it would be truly astonishing if the Vatican has called for it at this crucial moment and the Pope would not be there. For the past months, Francis has said repeatedly that survivors are the single most important reason for summit. Why would he not be there?”

ECA’s founding assembly has gathered in Rome for the week from five continents and over 20 countries.  The members attending the meeting are also leaders of survivor organizations from around the world and have worked with and represent thousands of victims.

CONTACT
Peter Isely (US Spokesperson/ECA Founding Member)
Email:peterisely@gmail.com
Tel: +1414-429-7259 (English)

Dr. Denise Buchanan (ECA Founding/Board Member)
Email: denise@ecaglobal.org
Tel: +1310-980-2770 (English)

Simone Padovani (ECA Founding Member)
Email: simon.padovani@gmail.com
Tel: +393921454211 (English, Italian, Spanish)

Tim Law (President ECA Founding/Board Member)
Email: timalaw@aol.com
Tel: +1206.412.0165 (English)

Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) is a worldwide leadership organization of survivors of clergy abuse and human rights activists. Its mission is to compel the Roman Catholic Church to end clergy abuse, protect children, and seek justice for victims. ECA assembly members represent over 21 countries from 6 continents. https://www.ecaglobal.org – @ENDCLERGYABUSE – https://www.facebook.com/ENDCLERGYABUSE/   – contactus@ecaglobal.org