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).
Accused abusive priest is now Nashville hospital chaplain
(For Immediate Release April 18, 2023)
He’s now a Tennessee hospital chaplain, even though
--a judge says he “inflamed” an argument that led to a murder,
--a Catholic bishop says he “abused his position as a clergyman,” violated a church code of ethics, tried to deceive investigators and
--a woman says he “sexually, emotionally and psychologically abused her in 2018,” and
--an attorney says he’s had “previous felony convictions.”
He is Fr. Anthony Cipolle and he’s a chaplain at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.
We call on the Catholic bishops of Nashville and Maine to
-- publicly warn the public, police and prosecutors about him, for the sake of public safety, and
-- clarify his clerical status, since the public’s been told he can’t function as a priest anymore.
We also applaud Melissa Kearns who bravely revealed her suffering at the hands of Cipolle in Maine’s largest newspaper yesterday.
https://1019por.com/news/074470-bangor-woman-shares-story-of-abuse-from-former-catholic-priest/
Fr. Cipolle’s church supervisors in Maine “did not specify how he allegedly attempted to deceive investigators, nor did it give details of his other alleged infractions” but said “he will not be given another assignment” and “cannot function or present himself as a priest.”
A Florida attorney secured a settlement on behalf of another adult victim of Fr. Cipolle.
https://www.adamhorowitzlaw.com/blog/2023/03/fr-anthony-cipolle-diocese-of-portland/
Catholic bishops can’t recruit, educate, ordain, train, supervise, pay and transfer sexually troubled clerics, then suddenly set them loose on society when they are exposed as wrongdoers. The church hierarchy owes an explanation to parishioners in both Maine and Tennessee and must clarify whether Cipolle has been defrocked or not.
Contact: Michael McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578)
Disgraced and Defrocked - Ex Cardinal McCarrick Facing New Criminal Charges
(For Immediate Release April 17, 2023)
We see this as still only the tip of the iceberg for "Uncle" Ted, and an ugly iceberg it is. We applaud the most recent victim who has bravely come forward and we are also glad the Wisconsin Attorney General has moved the wheels of justice against the disgraced former cardinal. We hope the victim's courage inspires others who are suffering to break their silence, report these crimes, expose dangerous perpetrators, and begin to heal.
On February 13, 2019, McCarrick lost his clerical standing and was laicized for sex offenses, making him the first cardinal to receive such a consequence for his crimes. As of February of this year, the former cardinal has been accused publicly of sexually assaulting at least eight seminarians, priests, and other vulnerable adults, as well as an estimated 14 children in New York and New Jersey. He is also facing criminal charges for child sexual abuse in Massachusetts, as well as in Wisconsin.
Francis defends John Paul II against accusations; SNAP is not shocked
(For Immediate Release April 17, 2023)
It has not been a good couple of years for the late Pope John Paul II, from documentaries that have demonstrated that he covered-up sexual abuse in his native Poland to a formal Vatican document naming him as the person chiefly responsible for Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s years of abuse. Now, the Vatican is defending the late Pope from accusations that he himself may have molested at least two children.
We are not surprised that Pope Francis is vigorously defending his predecessor against accusations he may have molested underage girls. For years, the Church’s stance has been to circle the wagons around prelates suspected of abuse, and given that former Pope John Paul II has already been canonized, we are not at all shocked at the actions following this news. Yet we urge Catholic leaders to tone down the public displays of outrage and instead double down on transparency and an examination of what might be true.
First Lawsuits Filed Against Portland Diocese by Native Americans
(For Immediate Release April 14, 2023)
Since the law that barred accusations of long-standing abuse was overturned, these lawsuits are the first ones brought by Native Americans against the diocese.
It is always hard to report abuse. It is even harder against powerful institutions. So, we are very grateful to every person who is playing a role in this case and bringing critical information to light. We hope their courage will inspire others to speak up, too.
We are elated that legislation in Maine affords victims the opportunity to file claims and we hope that these four brave individuals will receive the compensation they deserve for the pain they have carried alone for so long. We also encourage any other victims who have been time-barred from justice in Maine to come forward and get the help they need. At the same time, we know how difficult it can be to revisit the past, so we offer our network as a resource for those individuals navigating this difficult chapter in their lives. Please visit Child USA and SNAP Maine Survivor’s Toolkit for additional help.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected] 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for more than 35 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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Prosecutor in Maryland Gave A Pass to Abusive Priest; SNAP Reacts
(For Immediate Release April 13, 2023)
Sadly, the report out of Maryland that law enforcement officials aided in the cover-up of abuse by the local Archdiocese is not unusual. SNAP chapters from coast to coast can no doubt name other accused clerics who were protected in similar ways.
For example, on the other side of the country, Msgr. Ignatius Vincent Breen was arrested in Fremont, California, after an investigation by police in 1982. Eight young girls had accused the cleric of sexual abuse and were prepared to testify. The Bishop of Oakland at the time, John Cummins, instead cut a deal with the Alameda County district attorney. The priest would move out of the county and enter a counseling program. That was it. No trial, no testimony, no public scandal, no justice.
Msgr. Breen may have had as many as 100 victims. Sixty-one survivors have filed lawsuits accusing the clergyman of child sexual abuse in the California revival window that just closed. We have no doubt that the Oakland Diocese has been quietly resolving other cases for years.
Former Scranton Bishop James Timlin has Died; SNAP responds
(For immediate Release April 10, 2023)
Many Scranton Pennsylvania priests are accused of molesting kids and many of them worked under and were protected by the now-deceased Bishop James Timlin. We hope Timlin’s passing will bring some comfort to the hundreds of girls and boys who were sexually violated during his tenure.
One of those priests is Thomas Skotek who had molested and ultimately impregnated a minor girl in the parish between 1980 and 1985. Timlin sent Skotek for a psychological evaluation to Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland in October 1986 after learning of the crime. On October 9, 1986, Timlin wrote to Skotek at Saint Luke. "This is a very difficult time in your life, and I realize how upset you are. I share your grief. With the help of God, who never abandons us and who is always near, when we need him, this too will pass away, and all will be able to pick up and go on living. Please be assured that I am most willing to do whatever I can do to help."
In 1987, after Skotek returned to the diocese, Timlin reassigned him to St. Aloysius Parish in Wilkes-Barre. Timlin never notified parishioners in St. Aloysius or civil authorities about Skotek's rape of the girl. On December 13, 1989, the diocese sent a payment of $75,000 to the family of the rape victim. As part of the settlement, the family had to sign a non-disclosure agreement and liability waiver for both the diocese and Skotek.
SNAP Reacts to Concerning Video of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
(For Immediate Release April 10, 2023)
One of the world’s most influential religious leaders was forced to apologize following a viral video showing him apparently asking a young boy to “suck his tongue.” This story is another stark reminder of how powerful men can use their positions of power to benefit themselves at the expense of others, a thread that is all too common in cases of clergy sexual abuse.
The 14th Dalai Lama's apology follows a social media backlash against his behavior when a video of the incident, which happened at a gathering in the mountain city of Dharamshala in February, was shared on social media. In the clip, the child asks the Dalai Lama if he can give him a hug. The 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader then invites the boy on stage and points to his cheek and says, “first here,” prompting the boy to give him a hug and a kiss. After a few seconds, he then says, “suck my tongue,” poking his tongue out.
SNAP Calls on Archbishop William Lori to Immediately Update Credibly Accused Clergy List
(For Immediate Release April 5, 2023)
More than 30 Maryland clerics, brothers, sisters, and lay personnel accused of child sexual abuse who are named in the new Maryland Attorney General report, are NOT on the Baltimore Archdiocesan list of those "credibly accused." We are appalled and concerned.
We call on Archbishop William Lori to immediately:
- add these names to his list,
- publicly explain his recklessness and secrecy, and
- stop making hair-splitting and self-serving distinctions, such as refusing to list deacons, and
- start listing ALL Catholic church and school staffers who assault boys and girls, regardless of their titles status or positions.
Maryland Attorney General Release Redacted Report on Clergy Abuse; SNAP Reacts
(For Immediate Release April 5, 2023)
Maryland’s Attorney General has released a long-awaited report on their investigation into Catholic clergy sexual abuse in their state. We're glad that the AG fought to release this report and hope that people throughout the region will read the report to better understand how and why clergy abuse and cover-ups were able to be perpetrated for so many decades
We are in complete awe of the brave victims who came forward to share their tragic experiences with the commission, they join a huge network of survivors who are changing the world and protecting others from these atrocities.
This report goes back as far as 80 years so this is a good picture of historical abuse. But we're most concerned about recent and ongoing abuse, and we hope that this news will encourage anyone who has been hurt by clergy in Maryland to come forward and get help.
Should clergy be mandated reporters when a child discloses they are the victim of sexual abuse, even if learned in the confessional?
(For Immediate Release April 4, 2023)
This statement was written by New Jersey SNAP Leader, Mark Crawford
Topic: Should clergy be mandated reporters when a child discloses they are the victim of sexual abuse, even if learned in the confessional?
Why clergy MUST be mandated reporters when they learn of a child being sexually abused, yes, even if learned during the sacrament of confession.
As a young teenager, I was repeatedly sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by my parish priest several times a week for several years. I eventually learned the same was true for my younger brothers. The priest insisted I go to him for confession, to confess my sins. That insistence was nothing more than a skilled predator ensuring I saw such actions as my complicity in the sexual contact the priest was perpetrating. In other words, the sin was mine, not his.
For a young teenager, these instances of sexual abuse were infused with a perpetrator's faux love and concern. The priest often willingly lavished me with material gifts I could otherwise never have and took me on many trips away from home. These acts were torturous, causing mind-bending conflict and demanding a level of emotional response young children are not yet equipped with the ability to comprehend, causing confusion and great emotional distress.
I began to go to other priests for confession, in hopes of obtaining help to ensure such sexual contact stopped. I told the priests that another priest and I were having sexual relations but I wanted it to stop, that he was touching me in ways that would cause me to sin. What I wanted was help, for someone to intervene and stop the unwanted sexual acts. In all but one of these instances, the clerics failed to express a desire to help stop the abuse or even concern. To my great dismay, it did not stop as no real help ever materialized.