AUS - Sex abuse victims want whistle-blower priest honored
- Sex abuse victims want whistle-blower priest honored
- Christian Brothers transferred predator to Wollongong
- Was a teacher and the headmaster of a local school
- A fellow priest worked to expose abuse
- SNAP: urges anyone who saw, suspected, or suffered child sex crimes to come forward
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a footpath news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will urge anyone who saw, suspected, or suffered child sex crimes to;
--come forward, make a report and start healing,
--SNAP will urge the current Wollongong Bishop to find more victims
--SNAP will also honor the memory of the priest who worked so hard to expose abuse
WHEN
Friday November 30 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE
Outside Edmund Rice College 112 Mount Keira Road, West Wollongong
WHO
Two to three members of an international support group called SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) including an American woman who is the organisations president and founder.
WHY
In 1994 police in Wollongong were prepared to lay charges against Brother Michael Evans for sexual assault against a boy. Brother Evans was the headmaster of a local school, Edmund Rice College. Brother Evans committed suicide before police were able to charge him.
Brother Evans was also accused of abusing a boy while he was working in Sydney, prior to moving to Wollongong. Upon learning of the allegation against Brother Evans, his Christian Brother superiors moved him to Wollongong.
When Father Maurie Crocker was told by a seminary student that he was abused by Brother Evans, Crocker went to the police and encouraged the victims to make a statement. Father Crocker was later found dead.
Victims want to see Crocker’s memory honored. They question why other priests are not taking similar actions to expose predators and protect children. They will ask that other priests and church officials who know of or suspect sex crimes to speak up.
They want to ensure the cover-ups stop, those responsible are held accountable and that those who worked to expose abuse and protect kids are honored.
http://www.christianchat.com.au/christian-chat-articles/1996/4/16/police-were-slow-to-act-on-clergy-sex-assault-claim/
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC19980407044
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/predators-reign-of-terror-shocks-judge/story-fndo317g-1226522334637
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