Catholic Officials Demand Silence from Journalists who Walk Out in Protest, SNAP Applauds their Integrity
Catholic officials in Cologne demanded silence from journalists who were invited to a press event on a report into the scope and handling of clergy sexual abuse within Germany’s largest and wealthiest Archdiocese. Instead, those reporters walked out as one, showing that their silence cannot be demanded and that parishioners and the public deserve the whole truth about this serious issue.
The integrity of these journalists is to be applauded and their actions should be replicated by the media worldwide when Catholic officials anywhere attempt to strongarm reporters into silence. The fact is, the actions by Archdiocesan leaders in Cologne are yet another example of the “abuse playbook” that was identified in the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report. That is, the Church’s attempts to control the flow of information and obfuscate the who, when, and why of abuse and cover-up in Germany are not accidental but rather are part of a deliberate plan.
To us, this situation and these actions demand interference from the secular government. As it is, the German government and the German Catholic Church are closely linked since the Church receives federal tax revenues. For that reason alone, the citizens of Germany are owed a secular investigation into the scope of Catholic clergy abuse within their country. Clearly, the tax dollars of German citizens are being used to keep information that can help protect children and prevent abuse hidden from the public. We hope that German parishioners and politicians will speak out now against this sad attempt at control and will reassert their own power.
The journalists who walked out of this press conference deserve applause and recognition. We are grateful to them and hope that their example inspires others to stand up for what is right versus doing what is easy.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP 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
Showing 2 comments