Documents Prove the Diocese of Knoxville Lied to the Public about Cases of Clergy Abuse
Once again, church officials have claimed to be open and honest in cases of clergy abuse. Once again, it is journalists and secular advocates who have shown that claim to be false.
The revelation that church officials from the Diocese of Knoxville knew for more than a year about allegations against priests and diocesan employees – allegations that those church officials were publicly discrediting and dismissing – is beyond the pale. It is an example of brazen arrogance by diocesan officials and of wanton disrespect for parents, parishioners, and the public. This news makes it clear that the Diocese of Knoxville cannot be trusted to safeguard children or to be honest in reckoning with legitimate abuse reports.
The descriptions in this article about how the victim was treated should be alarming to any Tennessean, especially for Catholic parishioners and parents of children at church run schools. The apparent callousness in reviewing the report made by the victim as an adult, and the obvious cover up perpetrated by the Bishop, demands outside, secular oversight.
The only way to create a safe environment is for the Diocese of Knoxville to be audited by a secular authority. By using subpoena power and the ability to compel testimony under oath, the secret archives that church officials have kept on cases of sexual violence can finally be revealed. The exposure of those files can lead to meaningful reforms that will protect children and provide victims with some semblance of justice.
CONTACT: Dan McNevin, SNAP California ([email protected], 415-341-6417), Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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