The 3rd annual Celebration of Survival will be on

Saturday 30th June 2012

Verona, Italy

In the ancient piazza in front of the Arena

PROGRAMME

• 11.30  PRESS CONFERENCE BY ITALIAN M.P. MAURIZIO TURCO

VERONA CITY HALL
VIA S. MARIA ANTICA 1, VERONA

• 15.00  MEETING AT ISTITUTO ANTONIO PROVOLO

STRADONE A.PROVOLO 20, VERONA

• 16.00  JOYFUL MARCH TOGETHER LEAVING FROM ISTITUTO A.PROVOLO

AND TERMINATING IN PIAZZA BRA, VERONA

• 17.00  SPEECH OF THE SURVIVORS AND CELEBRATIONS!

(Further details on Facebook)

This year on June 30th in the beautiful Italian town of Verona, where overlooked by the snow capped mountains the sky is rarely anything but blue, where the opera is celebrated annually and Juliet’s balcony attracts lovers from all over the world – will be an even more special and historic gathering!

It was here in this Idyllic setting that hundreds of deaf and speech impaired children were sexually and violently abused in the Provolo Institution, by the catholic clergy and nuns who were supposed to be caring for them. Isolated in their community and unable to speak or hear, they were sitting targets for the predators in their midst.  Horrific stories of depravity and subjugation have come out from this place, and although all child sexual abuse is a tragedy, when it is forced upon such vulnerable and defenceless children because of their disability, it is doubly depraved and the whole World needs to scream their protests!

But sickening though these stories are, and sickening as the stories of all survivors around the World are , this gathering is NOT  about being victims!

For the last two years the survivors from  the Institute in Verona  have travelled to Rome to be with us  in Survivors Voice Europe to create an annual “celebration” day of survivors of catholic clergy abuse . And what  gatherings they have  been! We have been overwhelmed  and inspired by their bravery, their strength and even their humour!  We have walked together, marched together, danced together and laughed and cried together as the world’ s press watched. They have joined with us in solidarity and love and together as survivors of these  appalling crimes we have become strong!

We have been joined by other wonderful supportive people, some from the British Humanist Association, The National Secular Society, The Secular Medical forum, The Radicale party, Anticlericale  movement, along with families and friends. We have been joined by people from 14 countries, and followed by many more.

We will never forget that moment when we sent up those beautiful lanterns into the beautiful Roman sky, right in front of the vatican -screaming  ”ENOUGH” “BASTA” “GENNOEG”  as we danced to the music in the piazza! A life changing time  for us all. We felt at last we were “out of the shadows” and could celebrate our lives saved -despite the church- NEVER because of them!

This year we are holding that annual event together with our family from the Provolo survivors Institute  in their own beautiful town.We want the World’s eyes to be on Verona that day. We will celebrate and dance together  in the  ancient  piazza  in front of the arena. PLEASE PLEASE JOIN US!!!

We need you to be there, We need you to help us make this an annual spotlight for the World to see the Vatican’s shame and our fight back!  We need your support and  help to  continue that recovery from the worst betrayal of body and trust. But most of all we want you to share that inspiration and joy of survival as we  put two fingers up at the Vatican which continues to show it’s disdain and disregard towards the brave  and damaged people they have cruelly harmed.

COME AND JOIN US AND CELEBRATE SURVIVAL!