Clergy Abuse Survivors Share their Experiences Publicly in Baltimore
As Bishops Meet in Baltimore, Clergy Abuse Survivors Share their Experiences Publicly
They Want Their Stories to Lead to Prevention and Change
“This should never happen again,” they say
WHAT: Holding signs at a sidewalk news conference, survivors of clergy sexual abuse and their supporters will gather during the June meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to share their experiences with abuse publicly in the hope that their stories will compel action by Church officials.
WHO: Several members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a support and advocacy group for victims of institutional sexual violence, including Becky Ianni, longtime Virginia and D.C. area leader and SNAP board member.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 12 at 6 PM
WHERE: On the sidewalk outside the Baltimore Marriot Waterfront, located at 700 Aliceanna Street Baltimore, MD 21202
WHY: While members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gather in Baltimore for their June General Assembly, members of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are holding a public reading of stories and experiences of clergy sex abuse survivors. They are hopeful that, by sharing their experiences publicly, they will both inspire others to come forward and start healing and also force the USCCB to take action to prevent future cases of clergy abuse.
In addition, the group has also sent a letter to the USCCB’s President, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, inviting him to attend and urging him to “learn from these victims about how the abuse occurred, how it has affected them, and how you as President of the USCCB can play a leading role in ensuring that no other child or vulnerable adult is sexually abused by someone who is supposed to love and care for them.”
During the public reading, both men and women who were abused as children by priests will share their stories, as well as at least one survivor of abuse as an adult and one survivor who was abused by a nun.
CONTACT: Becky Ianni, SNAP Board Member (703-801-6044, [email protected]), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected]), Tim Lennon, SNAP President (415-312-5820, [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