IL- Predator priest arrested again
For immediate release Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, Founder and President of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
We are grateful for the victim and police who are working to get Fr. Daniel McCormack locked up again. He's one of Illinois' most egregious predator priests.
Chicago Catholic officials will no doubt try hard to distance themselves from him, arguing that he's been defrocked. But we think it's irresponsible for church officials to recruit, educate, train, hire, supervise, transfer and protect child molesting clerics, then suddenly pretend to be powerless once they are defrocked.
Top Chicago Catholic officials ignored warning signs, kept silent, and enabled McCormack to sexually violate perhaps dozens of boys. Those same Catholic officials have a moral and civic duty to help law enforcement pursue McCormack now, whether he's defrocked or not.
There are hundreds of parish bulletins, church websites and pulpits where verbal announcements could and should be made, imploring every single person who saw, suspected or suffered McCormack's crimes to call police immediately. Cardinal Francis George himself should personally visit every church where McCormack worked, begging his flock to step forward with what they know or suspect about McCormack. That's what a truly caring shepherd would do.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [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
Showing 1 comment