June 22, 2004

Lynne M. Abraham, District Attorney

City of Philadelphia

1421 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Dear Ms. Abraham:

Voice of the Faithful of Greater Philadelphia is a Catholic organization that is seeking a Gospel response from its Church toward the victims of clergy sexual abuse.

It fully supports the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) in demanding full prosecution of anyone responsible for sexual abuse, for those who aided and abetted such abuse, and for those who attempted to cover up these crimes. We join SNAP in opposing a plea bargain.

Church officials who covered up cases of clergy sexual abuse or who moved sexual predators from parish to parish and state to state are "accessories after the fact" in the full legal meaning of that term. As such, they must be held responsible for their actions.

We are aware of your long-standing commitment to justice for the victims of crime in Philadelphia, and we are confident that you will bring the full weight of your office to bear on the issue of clergy sexual abuse.

Sincerely yours,

(signed by Sylvester Bretschneider, Walter Fox, Loretta Connor, Mary Ellen Norpel, Alice O’Neill, Richard Taylor and Joy Wuenschel)

for the VOTF/GP Steering Committee