Diocese postpones more abuse healing services to 2018: Victims respond
Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected]
Bishop Wall’s primary job as the Bishop of Gallup is leading his flock, holding Masses, and healing souls—not attending conferences and fundraisers. Why is he not doing his primary job for the people who need him the most?
Wall seems to be very good at honoring obligations that make him look good. However, with this latest announcement, we see that he is NOT very good at honoring obligations that don’t make him look good: non-monetary agreements in a years-long bankruptcy battle, promises to update the list of 31 credibly accused abusers, and simple actions to help the healing of survivors of sexual abuse.
Healing masses and visiting the parishes where clerics abused children are a “no-brainer” that has a profound healing effect on many survivors. In fact, this is something that Wall should have done early in his tenure. By postponing these services for fundraisers and conferences, Wall is telling victims he doesn’t really care. And because many of the victims are older and ill, these year-long postponements may outlast the lifespans of many of the most hurt victims.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 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 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested in all institutional settings, including churches, schools, clubs, and homes. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact – Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, [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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