Australia – Archbishop found guilty of concealing child sex abuse, SNAP responds
For immediate release, May 22, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, Volunteer President, [email protected], 415-312-5820
We are extremely grateful that Archbishop Philip Wilson has been convicted of concealing child sexual abuse, and we commend the brave survivor, Peter Creigh, whose testimony made this conviction possible.
The relief, vindication and healing this verdict gives clergy sex abuse victims is long overdue. A conviction sends the strong and clear message that shielding and enabling predators is a heinous crime that threatens children, families, and communities. The verdict also provides a measure of justice for every child who was hurt in the archdiocese.
We hope that the judge will impose the stiffest possible sentence to deter this kind of self-serving secrecy in the future – in the church and in other institutions.
Children are safer when predators and those who shield them are behind bars.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org )
Contact - Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]), Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, [email protected])
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