CT--Controversial Catholic group invests in porn
For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A new book says that a high profile and controversial Connecticut-based Catholic religious order “invests in companies involved in the arms race, pornography and high-end real estate” and a Catholic journalist says this may make “a mockery” of Francis’ more progressive agenda.
http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-heads-mexico-amid-legionaries-christ-disclosures-0
In The National Catholic Reporter, veteran investigative journalist Jason Berry reports that the Legion of Christ is pilloried in a new book. Berry calls the Legion “only marginally reformed.” We think that’s a generous assessment. We believe it’s still a secretive cult-like group more dedicated to enriching itself than protecting kids, exposing enablers, or ousting predators.
We urge Francis to denounce the Legion. We urge caring Catholics and citizens to boycott the Legion’s hotel and pontifical complex in Jerusalem (the Notre Dame Institute), its building company (the ECO Development Group, a.k.a. Equipo de Coordinación de Obras, SC), and its travel agency, New Gate Tours (a.k.a. Artic SA de CV) with branches in the USA, Italy and Spain.
We hope every single person who has seen, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes or cover ups in the Legion of Christ – whether by Legion founder Fr. Marcial Maciel or others - will speak up, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and start healing.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747,[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
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