IL- Three more predator priest lawsuits; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Three more child sex abuse and cover up lawsuits have been filed against the Chicago archdiocese because of the heinous crimes of Fr. Daniel McCormack.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/19/three-more-accuse-former-priest-mccormack-of-sex-abuse/
We are deeply saddened each time we hear about more kids who were sexually assaulted by this prolific predator who was repeatedly given free passes and second chances by Cardinal Francis George and his top deputies.
Tragically, this horror could have all been avoided if only three steps had been taken.
First, church officials could have heeded warnings about McCormack's behavior in seminary and should not have ordained him.
Second, they could have ousted him at the first troubling indication of sexual misdeeds and maladjustment (and there were several of them) early in his priesthood.
Third, they could have responded with sensitivity when the first abuse report was made. Instead, Cardinal George, Jimmy Lago and other archdiocesan staff acted selfishly and deceptively, trying desperately to protect their reputations. This kind of irresponsible behavior is largely what drives victims to file lawsuits: when church officials, confronted with clear evidence of child sex crimes, act more like cold-hearted CEOs than the compassionate shepherds they profess to be.
(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 (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [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
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