By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – SNAP board member Mark Serrano calls Bishop Paul Bootkoski of the Metuchen, New Jersey diocese a "model" bishop. Serrano says Bootkoski has fully cooperated in criminal proceedings against an abusive priest, and was the first bishop to invite a member of SNAP to sit on his diocesan review board. Serrano says all bishops must follow Bootkoski's example:
"The bishops have got to settle claims without having to get into a blood fight in court. They need to release personnel files and documents to prosecutors as has been pursued in many dioceses across the country."
As 300 U.S. bishops continue their spring meeting, SNAP is also holding its first national conference in St. Louis.