As the Vatican addresses priest abuse, more people are reporting sexual abuse by nuns
At the Vatican summit on clergy abuse Friday morning, attention turned to abuse by nuns. Victims' advocates delivered a letter to an organization representing nuns asking predator nuns be exposed so survivors can begin to heal. This call to action comes as more victims speak out.
Nun abuse survivor Virginia June was at home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, when she heard fellow survivor Trish Cahill talking about her experience on "CBS This Morning."
"I whipped around. I could not believe that somebody was actually talking about it," June told CBS News' Nikki Battiste.
In a CBS News report last month, Cahill called nun abuse "the secret not yet told." Hearing that made June feel "validated" for the first time.
Facing a troubled childhood at home in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, June said she turned to Sister Pat Kulwicki for guidance. Kulwicki taught June's religious study class at what was then Our Lady of Mercy High School.
"She seemed to be very consoling and very nurturing and very wonderful and she became a mentor to me," June said.
The 57-year-old said Sister Kulwicki began molesting her when she was 14 years old. The first time was at Kulwicki's apartment.
"I knew it was wrong and I didn't know who to tell … I was so confused it was like this sister is doing these sexual things to me and I thought she was married to God," June said.
June said the abuse continued for a decade and fueled her addiction to drugs and alcohol. She cla...
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