Media Statements
We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
Buffalo Priest Returns to Ministry Despite Being Named in Second Lawsuit in New York
When it comes to allegations of clergy abuse, Catholic church officials have used a playbook with many different strategies. A key part of that strategy has been to self investigate, with predictable results.
NFL’s Saints Commit an Egregious Personal Foul by Interfering With Clergy Abuse Investigation
The New Orleans Saints, an NFL Football team, are for some reason involved with doing damage control for the beleaguered Archdiocese of New Orleans. Making matters worse, team executives are going to court to prevent the public from being aware of their intervention.
Another Priest Added to Oklahoma City’s List of Abusive Clerics
Another priest has been added to the Oklahoma City Archdiocese’s list of abusers. We call on Catholic officials to do outreach in every community where this priest worked to encourage other possible victims to come forward and make a report.
SNAP Points Out Fatal Flaw in Church-Run Investigations
Catholic officials in Rome have opened an abuse investigation into a New York prelate who three months ago they had selected to lead an abuse investigation of his own. This situation is a clear example of the need for external, secular investigations instead of church-run ones.
AP Investigation Exposes Vatican’s Refusal to Punish Known Abusers
An AP report into a notorious sex abuser and the religious order he founded to further his abuse has exposed the Vatican for taking zero action in the past decade to punish abusers and those who covered for them. Despite knowledge about these crimes and public pledges for zero tolerance, church officials in Rome have again chosen to do nothing at the expense of survivors and the vulnerable.
Documents Prove the Diocese of Knoxville Lied to the Public about Cases of Clergy Abuse
Once again, church officials have claimed to be open and honest in cases of clergy abuse. Once again, it is journalists and secular advocates who have shown that claim to be false.
Archdiocese of Anchorage Releases Report into Abusive Clergy
The Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, has released the names of 14 clergy who have been “credibly” accused of abuse. Of those names, four are new names that have not been previously disclosed. But like almost all lists released by Catholic officials, as opposed to secular law enforcement, it is still lacking in completeness and transparency.
On the Importance of Hotlines and Public Updates for Clergy Abuse Investigations
As the new year continues to roll on, a report out of Florida has served as an example for other attorneys general around the country who have been investigating cases of clergy abuse.
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