By Barbara Dorris

Another beautiful day in Rome. The sky is blue and it is warm, very warm. It is tourist season and there are large groups of both kids and adults touring the city. There is so much beautiful architecture after a while it begins to blend in and you do not notice every statue, fountain and beautiful building. The jasmine is blooming and at times the air is scented.

We met with press from the US, France and  Italy. Tomorrow we will walk to St. Peter’s Square to do more interviews and we will meet with Italian victims. It is never easy to come forward in Italy but right now the city is filled with priests (some 15,000) and many survivors find it too triggering to come to Rome. I can’t walk down a block without passing by at least one or two priests here. With this environment I am so inspired by the courage of victims who risk and reach out to us in SNAP. They claim that they find help from us but I find so much from them. I guess that is what makes SNAP so unique and has sustained the movement for twenty-two years. Survivors give and take with each other. We don’t always understand how it works but we continually hear from each other how meaningful it is to get together and meet one another. We each find strength and inspiration from each other while we fail to recognize how we are giving to each other. I don’t understand it but I see the tangible results.

Today, again, we have been asked many questions. As I hear myself responding I recognize that I am saying what one of you has said to me. Peter, Joelle and I are telling reporters what you have been telling us, how you feel about what is happening, what you wish for and of your willingness to set aside your own problems to reach out and help others.

Our press conference. By the time it started, every seat was full.

As we met with reporters today, as every other day we have been here, we have taken out the childhood photos many of you sent in. The pictures have been a huge success and we often introduce you to the media—“this is Robert, James, Mary, Becky, John, etc so I feel you are with us!

At the end of support group meetings we are usually invited to say how we feel “now.” So before I call it a night, I want to tell you how I feel. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all you who made it possible for me to be here in Rome and given me the opportunity to spread our message. I am grateful to those who sent in donations but also to those of you who could not send in a monetary contribution. I appreciate the courage each of you takes to admit you were abused and your generosity in exposing your predator. I am buoyed up knowing that you are working hard to recover from the abuse. For so many survivors just getting through the day, staying sober and not committing suicide is a huge accomplishment. I understand that and appreciate all of you. It is the willingness of everyone to be face up to our abuse, work at being healthy and trying to prevent future abuse that is the lifeblood of our movement. Don’t know how to say this better, trust you understand. I am grateful. My feeling at the end of the day is overwhelming gratitude. Good night!