Transcript of Tony Lembo's remarks at the initial March 26, 2007 press conference in the Conn. State Legislative Office Building.

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     I'd like to begin by thanking State Representative Michael P. Lawlor of East Haven, who played an important role in 2002 in winning passage of an amendment to the law that extended the civil statute of limitations for childhood victims of sexual abuse.

     Without Representative Lawlor’s efforts–in the face of strong opposition by the church–I could not have published my story, which has proven to be a big step in my recovery. I want to thank him as well for allowing us to use this public space to draw attention to this issue.

     I also want to thank United States Magistrate Judge William I. Garfinkel, who served as the mediator in the settlement I was part of. I met with him and it was he who guaranteed me my right to free speech when I told him I would refuse to sign any non-disclosure agreement.

I also want to acknowledge the support and encouragement of SNAP and Voice of the Faithful, and the hard work of the staff of the Hartford Courant in digging up the details behind Foley’s crimes.

I especially want to extend my gratitude to two former law enforcement officials who were tremendously helpful in connecting some of the dots. Anthony Toce–retired as deputy chief of the Bloomfield Police Department–was able to confirm some of the details of Foley’s activities, and Adrienne LaMorte–a former State Police investigator who tried to get Foley off the streets–was also generous with her memories.

     Finally, I want to thank my attorney, Leonard Crone, who helped me through the process of filing and settling my lawsuit. He remained patient when I was not.

     This book took a little over a year to complete and the experience was emotionally exhausting, to say the least. I've learned so much from the time I filed the law suit in 2002.

     I’ve learned that there are organizations who hope that America has no memory, that America will forget the brutal acts committed against thousands of children, under the cloak of religious piety. Acts so ungodly that many survivors are crippled for the rest of their lives.

     I hope my book will help enlighten people about the long lasting effects of this type of trauma and the struggle that so many of us have endured for decades. All the money in the world cannot compensate for decades of estrangement from family, self-doubt, and rage born of callous betrayal.

     Although the Catholic church is making monetary settlements to compensate victims, it is clear to me that the church is only doing what it has been forced to.

     Among the many indignities I have experienced, the worst was when I was interviewed by a church attorney as a prelude to my settlement. One of the first questions he asked was about my sexual preference. I could have told him I had been married and had been in two other long-term relationships with women, but I refused to answer the question. I was too angry.

     Instead I told him I was insulted that he asked such an irrelevant question. He replied that it was the church that insisted it be asked. Then and there I realized that the church’s public statements about caring for the victims, about being interested in healing, was hog wash. The church didn’t care about the sexual interests of its priests, and thousands have paid a life-long price.

     In the process of putting my book together, I learned that there are very few books available by survivors of priest abuse. The reasons are obvious: it’s embarrassing and, in many cases, the only way victims could collect is by agreeing to keep their mouths shut.

     In my case, I would have gotten no satisfaction out of taking money from the church to keep my mouth shut. As you’ll read in my book, the facts of my case are shocking, graphic, and true. I decided to tell my story because I wanted to make sure that everyone knew just how heartless, manipulative, and selfish Foley was and how the church and others protected him so he could keep on committing his crimes.

     This is a book the leaders of the Catholic church do not want you to read. They want everyone to forget, without ever knowing the facts. My greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that this is now impossible. It's all there, in black and white.

     To those who can’t or don’t want to write a book or speak out, I want you to know that, as much as I am able, I will try to speak out for you.

     To those who love someone who was sexually victimized as a child, I hope this book will give you a window into their soul, and an opening to help them in their recovery.