AZ -- Sex Abuse victims/advocates want church to act
For immediate release Sunday, April 22, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon of Tucson, Volunteer President of SNAP’s Board of Directors (415-312-5820, [email protected])
The founder of a large nondenominational church in Arizona admitted to having sex with girls in his charge when he was a married youth pastor at a Baptist Church in California. The victims came forward following a February news report about another youth pastor at the same Modesto parish who had been accused of sexually abusing a minor.
http://www.modbee.com/news/article209378504.html
In response to the allegations, Les Hughey, who is the senior pastor at Highlands Church in Scottsdale, issued a statement saying that "I sinned and harmed the most important relationships in my life… ." The minister characterized the sex as"consensual relations with fellow college-aged staff."
http://media.modbee.com/static/blc2000/Hugheystatement.pdf
SNAP applauds the brave survivors, emboldened by the #MeToo movement, for speaking out about Pastor Hughey’s actions. While those who have come forward may not have been minors, a minister holds a position of power over those who come to him for guidance such that no sexual relationship with those in this care can be truly considered consensual.
As survivors, we urge Highlands Church leaders and parishioners to insist that Pastor Hughey resign from any position of authority. While we have no knowledge that the minister has continued to cross appropriate boundaries, it is unfortunately true that many who have done so continue to do so.
The damage caused by this type of behavior can be devastating, even fatal, for the victims. No church that cares about the members of its community should risk allowing someone who has crossed this boundary to remain as a pastor.
(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 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contacts
Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]), Melanie Jula Sakoda (925-708-6175), 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