Blog

A longtime SNAP Leader, supporter, and friend passed away this week. Jerry Arnal supported survivors in the Youngstown, OH area and was a warm and kind presence to all who knew him. We are saddened to lose Jerry and our hearts go out to all of his loved ones during this challenging time.

This blog was written by Adults Sexually Abused by Priests (ASAP)

Last week’s poll showed that the majority of people if they could, would go back to the year 1970 knowing what they know now. Wow, the mistakes I could have avoided if I could back.

This blog was written by Adults Sexually Abused by Priests (ASAP)

First a review of last week’s poll. What do most of you do to let go of worry? Most of you said you either pray or you talk to a friend or therapist. Curiously, nobody said they drink or smoke cigarettes. Just so you know, I can’t see who answers the poll or what anyone says….just the results. Okay, just saying….I don’t judge.

I want to talk about the second step I came across when dealing with a Narcissist. The Compliment Sandwich. Has anyone not heard of this?

The below linked articles Reporting Abuse and Surviving Abuse were written by Bailey Brown, a graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas with a degree in journalism. For her senior journalism project, she reported on clergy sexual abuse and interviewed several SNAP survivor advocates for her stories.

This blog was written by Adults Sexually Abused by Priests (ASAP)

I have grown. I have grown into a comfortable spot. I’ve heard many people tell their stories. I’ve encouraged them, cared about them, believed them. I put my story into a book. Someone told me that I was brave last week. Sometimes that is true. As I said, I have grown.

This blog was written by Adults Sexually Abused by Priests (ASAP)

This past week I heard someone mention, “Turning the Other Cheek”. And I thought….what does that mean actually? Does it mean that if someone hurts you, it should be okay with you and that you should walk right back up to the person and allow them to hurt you again? Seriously?

By Vanessa Marin, NY Times

It’s been a particularly difficult few months for sexual abuse survivors. If you know someone who’s been abused, here are some tips to best support them and their recovery.

A blog by Tim Lennon, President of the Board Directors

Dear Friends,

I started a blog. In the last ten years of advocacy and activism with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP,  I corresponded, talked, and met with thousands of survivors and supporters. This advocacy generated a large amount of information, research, analysis. 

As a result, I wrote repeatedly wrote similar responses to common questions hundreds of times. I compiled the essays, guidance, and analyses I had written and made them available as a collection on my blog, StandupSpeakup.org. Now it is open to all. 

I included a significant amount of survivor support information, resources for survivors, analysis, action steps, and a description of my history of sexual abuse. Follow my steps to achieve justice: pictures, documents, newspapers, and other media responses. 

This blog was written by Adults Sexually Abused by Priests (ASAP)

This past week, I learned that a priest I knew as a child….one that may have come to my house for dinner….was on the credibly accused list. My mother worked for the diocese for about twelve years and so in addition to having a seminary in back of my house, and growing up with the caretaker’s children, these priests and nuns and seminarians would often be in our living room and in our pool.