Group wants names added to pedophile priests list
An advocacy group seeking greater protection for children from pedophile priests called Friday for the Archdiocese of San Antonio to add four names to its list of 56 clergy members who have worked in the area and have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse.
Patti Koo, local leader of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), said she is aware of “just a handful” more of abuse survivors having come forward since the archdiocese issued its list Jan. 31, after the release of a report by a special lay commission to identify priests who had been “credibly accused” of sexual assault.
The survivors group also is worried that one of the priests on the list of 56 is not being adequately supervised. Koo encouraged more survivors to report past abuse to law enforcement officials, anonymously as an information report, so clergy members with a pattern of assault can be tracked through public records.
Koo also wants Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller to expand the list to at least 60 names — for now.
“We are asking the bishop to please update, add these to his list and please do this on a regular basis. They should be doing this aggressively and changing it. There are dioceses that do that already,” Koo said during a news conference in front of the archdiocese headquarters.
The archdiocese responded with a statement that it “does not have any records or reports concerning allegations of sexual abuse of minors here against the four individuals.” Though the men were not priests of the archdiocese, church officials encouraged anyone with any information concerning them to initially contact law enforcement and then the archdiocesan Office of Victim Assistance and Safe Environment at 210-734-7786, or toll-free, 877-700-1888.
García-Siller and the archdi...
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