SNAP Media Events

Victims blast Philly archbishop

He brings controversial group here

Its founder & his top aide abused kids

Several with the order are now in Philly parish

Advocates say Chaput “must denounce predators”

SNAP also charges “Pope’s visit last year changed nothing”

Local Catholic officials “ignore Francis’ pledges,” victims allege

Pontiff said ‘enablers’ would be ‘held accountable’ but they aren’t, SNAP feels

WHAT:

Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will urge Philly’s top Catholic officials to:

• “come clean” about importing a controversial, ultra-conservative Catholic cult-like order (Sodalitium Christianae Vitae) whose founder is a confirmed child molester,
• stop promoting the order and start warning other US bishops about it, and
• act on the promises Pope Francis made in Philly a year ago by exposing and disciplining even a few priests who hid or ignored child sex crimes, and disclose more about clergy sex abuse cases.

Belleville priest sued for abuse for first time

Cleric is still head of a parish in Waterloo now

He sexually exploited a vulnerable counselee

And he admitted to her other violations of his vows

With his help, she was a new convert to Catholicism

He’s one of more than a dozen African priests in diocese

Victim is revealing her name and issuing a public statement

SNAP: “For the safety of parishioners & the public,” cleric should be suspended

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will 
--disclose that a new abuse and cover up lawsuit is being filed against a Belleville Catholic priest and his church supervisors,

--provide his photo and work history and

--urge Belleville’s bishop to suspend the priest.

Group to victims: “Careful with Cardinal’s plan”

Advocates feel it’s designed “to keep cover ups covered up”

Instead, they push for a new church whistleblower reward fund

And Dolan should not ask victims to give up their legal rights, they say   

For immediate release: Sunday, September 18, 2016

Walk & rally held today on child sex laws

Victims want statute of limitations reformed

In 3 states, group wants “better child safety laws”

Legislation has been introduced in NJ, PA & NY

NJ State Senator will also address the group in Trenton

A walk through Trenton and a rally at the State House will be held today calling for legislators in three states to reform statutes of limitations to make it easier for child sex abuse victims to “help protect kids, expose predators, deter cover ups and heal victims” in both the criminal and civil courts.

Victim’s group: “Bishop must do outreach now”

SNAP: “others may be suffering alone and in silence”

First court appearance for the accused is September 19^th 

Survivors also urge officials to teach kids that women can be predators too

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will

-- discuss the case of a newly-arrested abusive school teacher,

-- stress the likelihood that she may have hurt kids at TWO schools, not just one,

They will also beg Catholic and school officials to

-- educate kids and parents that women abuse too,

--“reach out to girls who may still be suffering alone and in silence,”

-- use their resources to beg those who may have experienced, witnessed or suspected abuse by this teacher to come forward, and

-- “come clean” to law enforcement investigators about any prior allegations of inappropriate behavior with students in the interest of public safety.

Two face recent charges of child sex crimes
 
The 3rd, the head pastor, was fired for “alcohol abuse”
 
Group urges “independent investigation” into “network”
 
“Independent churches are ripe for wrongdoing,” SNAP says
 
WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will 
--blast officials at a state-wide mega-church where two volunteers were recently charged with abuse and the ‘founding pastor’ has been fired for “unfortunate choices and decisions,"
 
--urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes, cover ups or other misconduct there to call secular authorities, not church officials, and
 
--warn church-goers that abuse and cover up is sometimes more prevalent in independent mega-churches that are often started and dominated by powerful personalities and lack any real “checks and balances” that are usually found in more established denominations.

Last month, man reached $4.5 million settlement