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).
Dallas Police Raid Chancery Office, SNAP Responds
We applaud Texas law enforcement officials for raiding the “secret archives” of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. We are glad that police and prosecutors are taking the issue of clergy abuse in Texas seriously and are not just relying on the promises of church officials.
SNAP Praises Bishop Brennan and Calls for More Action in Fresno
For immediate Release: May 14, 2019
We are grateful to Bishop Robert Brennan for his public show of support for survivors of clergy abuse and for calling for civility and understanding in cases of clergy sex abuse. There is power in public statements from church leaders and we are glad that Bishop Brennan chose to use his in this way.
SNAP Responds to California Bishops’ Compensation Fund
For immediate release, May 14, 2019
The California Catholic Dioceses have announced their plans to create a compensation fund for survivors of clergy abuse. While we appreciate the gesture, we hope that survivors in California will carefully consider their options before signing on.
Diocese of Charlotte will Post Names By “End of the Year,” SNAP Reacts
Charlotte's Catholic bishop will has finally decided to follow in the footsteps of most of his brother bishops and release a list of clergy who have been publicly accused of abuse. Yet, for some reason, he was unable to commit to releasing the list promptly, only agreeing to do so “by the end of the year.”
While we are glad that Bishop Peter Jugis is finally taking this much belated and long overdue step, it is challenging to understand why it took so long to reach this decision. In his statement, Bishop Jugis says that he began the review process last fall: why then, can he not put a preliminary list out today and then continue to add and update as more information comes in? That would be the better thing to do, and more in line with the Church’s pledges to be “open and honest” about the clergy sex abuse scandal.
The longer information about abusers remains hidden, the less informed communities are and the greater the risk to the vulnerable. Most bishops around the country have already released names and other information to the public. Bishop Jugis should not need the rest of the year to follow suit and should be able to commit to more than this vague deadline.
When the bishop does release his list, we hope that it is the single-most comprehensive list of its kind in the country. The extra time needed by Church officials in the Diocese of Charlotte should let them ensure that their list contains not only names and current status and whereabouts, but also headshots, work histories for each of the accused, dates the allegations were received and detailed information on what steps Church officials in Charlotte took in response to those allegations.
It is also worth pointing out that in his statement Bishop Jugissays that any allegation he uncovers in his "comprehensive review" will be forwarded to the Lay Review Board for examination, yet makes no mention of police or prosecutors. Institutions cannot police themselves and the only way to get to the bottom of the clergy abuse scandal and determine who knew what, when they knew, and what they did with that information is by involving the secular professionals in law enforcement.
NJ Governor Signs Historic Bill to Extend Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse and Open a 'Window to Justice'
We commend Governor Phil Murphy, Senator Joseph Vitale, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, NJ SNAP leader Mark Crawford, and the hundreds of survivors and advocates who made this dramatic reform of the statute of limitations (SOL) in New Jersey possible. The new law will be one of the best in the nation, granting all sexual abuse survivors the opportunity to access the justice system.
SNAP Calls Texans to Action as Case Against Conroe Priest Progresses
Earlier this month, a Conroe County Grand Jury indicted allegedly abusive priest Fr. Manuel LaRosa Lopez. Today, that case moves forward.
Michigan AG Receives Death Threats over Clergy Abuse Probe
We are very sad that any law enforcement officer would face threats for doing his or her job and we are distressed that the Michigan attorney general has suffered in this way. We hope Michigan's bishops quickly and harshly condemn this hatred. Violence is never the answer.
Pope Francis Issues New Reporting Laws, SNAP Responds
A lack of policies or procedures has never been the main problem in the clergy sex abuse scandal. Rather, it has been a lack of accountability for hierarchs who conceal sex crimes and a deficit of courage and willingness to take immediate, decisive action on those who have enabled those crimes to occur.
PUBLICLY ACCUSED FRESNO ABUSIVE PRIESTS ‘UNDER THE RADAR’ (5/9)
--Fr. John R. Shepherd, who was a Jesuit and who worked in Arizona and spent time in at least five California towns: Los Angeles, San Jose, Los Altos and Azusa. In 1954-1955, he was at Ryan Preparatory Junior Seminary in Fresno.
http://jesuitswest.org/Assets/Publications/File/JW_List_1207_English.pdf
Survivor Speaks Out in Boston as New Abusers are Revealed
We applaud this brave survivor who had the courage to come forward, name her abuser publicly, and demand action from the Archdiocese of Boston. And when a survivor speaks truth to power, we hope that others – both in the Archdiocese of Boston and within the community – are listening and learning.