Another Priest from the Diocese of Fresno Suspended
Another priest has been suspended from the Diocese of Fresno due to allegations of sexual abuse. This time, the action was not taken due to recent allegations, but because a new person in charge took the time to review old cases.
We are glad that Church officials from the Diocese of Fresno are looking deeper at cases of abuse within their diocese. We are also glad that they are taking steps to remove priests – like Fr. Eric Swearengin – that may present a danger to their communities.
When a survivor, Juan Rocha, first reported the allegations against Fr. Swearengin to Bishop Steinbock and the Diocese of Fresno, Church officials declared the allegations “not credible.” Yet in 2006 and after reviewing the evidence, a jury determined that Fr. Swearengin had abused Juan Rocha. The priest should have been removed from ministry at that point, considering the “zero tolerance” pledge made by U.S. bishops in 2002.
It is good that Bishop Joseph Brennan reached a different conclusion than his predecessor, Bishop John Steinbock, when reviewing information related to Fr. Swearengin’s case. Leaving Fr. Swearengin in ministry was an incomprehensible move, and one that needed to be corrected.
This is the second case this year where the diocese looked into an "old" allegation and appeared to have changed its assessment. Msgr Craig Harrison was accused of abusing a boy in 1998, and that report was found to be "unsubstantiated." However, last month Fresno chancellor and spokeswoman Teresa Dominguez apparently visited the 1998 accuser at his home to apologize and to tell him that she believed him. It seems clear to us that all previously dismissed cases must be reopened and reexamined. We strongly believe that continued investigation will reveal other instances where the earlier findings should be overturned.
We hope that anyone who may have seen, suffered, or suspected abuse committed by Fr. Swearengin – or any other priest from Fresno – will be encouraged by today’s move and inspired to come forward and report what they know to law enforcement. We also hope that Bishop Brennan will continue this trend of revisiting old cases and removing priests who should have been pulled from ministry many years ago.
CONTACT: Dan McNevin, SNAP Board Member ([email protected], 415-341-6417), Joey Piscitelli, SNAP California ([email protected], 925-262-3699) Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Coordinator, ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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