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Priest Abuse Victims Call For Meeting With New Pope

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A support group for clergy sex abuse victims is writing Pope Francis asking for a meeting to discuss how to stop and prevent current and future child sex crimes and cover ups.

Priest Abuse Victims Call For Meeting With New Pope

Peter Isely with the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests says Pope Francis represents new hope for the priest sex abuse crisis.

"We want to begin a new dialogue with him. The most optimistic even this week for us is that we got a chance for a new beginning."

The new Pontiff has already paid a visit with Cardinal Law, who allegedly covered up sex crimes for decades in Boston.

"Surely if the new pope can meet with Cardinal Law from Boston who symbolizes everything that's wrong with the Catholic Church and the cover up, surely he can meet with victims of priest sexual abuse," said Iseley.

Iseley says he is also pushing Chicago's Cardinal George to help SNAP to set up the meeting. He says it's time for Pope Francis to make sweeping changes in the church to keep children safer.

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