Another Legion of Christ sex scandal, SNAP responds
Our hearts go out to this woman and her child, and to everyone who has been hurt by the reckless, callous, secretive and cult-like Legion of Christ. We know that there are many other cases like this, in which a powerful priest has manipulated a vulnerable parishioner. (see Fr. Henry Willenborg on BishopAccountability.org)
We also suspect that neither Fr. Williams nor the Legion have adequately taken care of this woman or the child, as is so often the case when clerics father children. Such secrecy and insensitivity is hurtful to everyone involved.
Genuine sexual consent between a parishioner and a priest is extremely unlikely if not impossible. Catholics are taught, essentially from birth, that priests are God's representatives on earth, able to forgive sins and turn bread into Christ's body and wine into Christ's blood.
This kind of experience is almost always harmful to the women who are exploited by powerful, popular, charismatic and well educated clerics.
We call on Vatican and Legion officials to publicly discipline Fr. Williams. (He claims he's taking a year off to "reflect" on what he's done.) As long as priests who engage in sexual misdeeds get to determine their own consequences for their misconduct, little will change in the church and vulnerable adults will remain vulnerable.
Read the story here: http://www.njherald.com/story/18426203/prominent-legion-priest-admits-he-fathered-child
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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