Former School Director Arrested for Child Porn, SNAP Responds
An ex-Long Island Catholic school staffer has just been indicted on child pornography charges. We hope this move will prod others who have been sexually violated to step forward.
This news provides the first opportunity for Bishop John Barres to enlist in the pope’s new “all out war” on abuse. To do that, he must use parish bulletins, church websites and pulpit announcements to beg anyone with information about Michael Wustrow’s alleged crimes to call police. That’s the best way to protect kids – help make sure predators are imprisoned.
Everyone abhors abuse. The question is: will you take steps to stop it? Barres commands a large staff and many resources. So he could help police, prosecutors, parents and parishioners here, if he has the will. Based on our experience, we suspect he doesn’t.
Finally, we are glad Wustrow is being held without bail. That helps protect kids. All too often Catholic officials facing prosecution for child sex crimes fled overseas.
(Wustrow is the former music director at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, where accused predator priests Fr. Brian Brinker and Fr. Joseph C. McComiskey also worked.)
CONTACT: Janet Klinger, SNAP Long Island ([email protected], 814-341-8386), 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