All roads lead to Rome!!

When you're just about to do something you feel strongly about, optimistic, and determined, there is nothing worse than someone saying "Been there -Done that"!
So I am loathe to say too much to my fellow clergy survivors on their way to Rome this week in the hope of making a difference as the vatican embarks on yet another of their PR stunts.
But I have to say, that I do hope that when they get there, after all the hype, when they realise that the vatican does NOT give a shit about them or me or any of us, they will learn  the  greatest lesson that we at SVE learned- and that is that the biggest and most precious thing we have is our connection with each other!

Yes,  they will be euphoric to be in Rome, it is a beautiful magical city, and yes there will be plenty of press coverage, France 24 will interview you, as will the BBC , Russian TV and many others too! The first time we went we had press from 25 countries covering our trip! 
The vatican however, were oblivious!

The Radicale party hosted meetings, we said our piece (and then some)- the vatican -Nothing!
We were ushered in to meet Lombardi, that snake tongued papal spokesperson, who snivelled and whinged, and then lied through his teeth the next day about how many people had been at the meeting and what had been said!

The secret police were in evidence, they watched our every move, we sang, we lit candles, we marched some were arrested- the vatican--- nothing!
We laid stones from our gardens in vatican square, they were removed within seconds.
The following year we went again, this time to "Celebrate our survival" against all odds and with no interest in engaging with the vatican.

We danced, we sang, we set lanterns in the sky above the vatican, we rejoiced in each others company again. 

the vatican-- nothing apart from watch us from the rooftop!
We went again, we spoke in the Italian parliament, we met the press, we danced we sang.We ate a lot of Pizza!


We went to the UN we gave 6 hours of evidence twice to committees that found the holy see in dreadful breaches of articles of the rights of the child and against torture. Did they listen to any of their directions - Did they F....k!!     We ate a lot of apple strudel!
                       
We watched in horror as the two deluded survivors were seduced into that impotent papal commission, only to see them be abused and abused yet again!
WE STOPPED going!!!
We realised that they used us for their own purposes, to lie to the world!
We decided that the only thing that we can realistically do is contribute to the care of survivors, we have no energy to play the vatican's games. 
And we have had no regrets from that 
decision. 
I take no pleasure in this doom laden warning!!
I wish the travelling survivors much love , and hope they meet and connect with each other in the same way we did, (most of us anyway! there were some there with strange agendas!)
In the meantime we will continue with our commitment to connect with and support individual survivors who's damage is devastating and will not be healed by ANY input from the vatican!
Go to our website, use the therapeutic stuff on there freely for your journey, please don't let the bastards abuse  you again!
http://survivorsvoice-europe.org/?page_id=400