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).
SNAP Responds to Priest Removed in Greensburg Diocese
For immediate release, August 22, 2018
Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader: 636-433-2511, [email protected]
We have just learned that a priest in the Greensburg diocese has been accused of child sex abuse.
https://www.wpxi.com/news/top-stories/pittsburgh-priest-abuse-pastor-removed-from-duty-after-child-sexual-assault-allegations/818356961
We urge anyone who may have knowledge or may have been harmed by Msgr Michael Matusak, who has been accused of child sex abuse, to report this abuse to law enforcement, not the church officials, they are not the proper officials to be investigating child sex crimes.
Survivors and Supporters Demand Investigations in Every State
For immediate release: August 22, 2018
For more information: Tim Lennon, SNAP President, [email protected], 415-312-5820
Victims & advocates urge more investigations into church
Groups wants every state attorney general to "act now"
"Exposing cover ups will prevent more cover ups," SNAP says
Even if no charges are brought, groups say kids will be safer
We find in Pennsylvania that the church hierarchy will only report child sex abuse by when forced to clergy when forced to by outside agencies like a grand jury. We are outraged at the new information of historic and systematic sexual abuse of children
Therefore, we are urging survivors and supporters to demand every state’s attorney general follow Pennsylvania's lead and launch formal investigations into how US bishops deal with victims and predator priests.
Survivors astounded and ask some burning questions: Bishop Burns admits that he only disclosed the sexual molestation of 3 victims by Rev. Edmundo Paredes because of the PA Grand Jury report last week.
For immediate release, August 21, 2018
Statement by Lisa Kendzior (817-773-5907, [email protected]), Paul Petersen, 972-569-0995, [email protected]), Volunteer Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter Leaders of SNAP, the Survivors Network
Bishop Edward Burns, leader of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, publicly admitted that he only disclosed the credible allegations that Rev. Edmundo Paredes sexually molested 3 victims, because of the PA Grand Jury report that came out last week.
Survivors ask the burning question, “If the PA Grand Jury report never happened, would we know about Paredes’ alleged sex crimes or would this important information still be hidden in the secret files within the diocese? No!”
https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/08/19/dallas-pastor-suspended-sexual-abuse-allegations/
New Letter from the Pope, Same Old Song
For immediate release, August 20, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, President, SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 415-312-5820, [email protected]
Today, we read another missive from Pope Francis about the sexual abuse of children by clergy, this time in response to the devastating report on the Church cover up of these crimes in Pennsylvania. He appropriately expressed righteous anger. The pope again apologized
http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2018/08/20/180820a.html
But we have heard it before. Once again, Pope Francis gives us words not action.
Here's the only question that really matters: Is there a child on earth who is safer now because of the pope's words? Absolutely not.
TX--Survivors appalled: Why did Bishop Burns suppressed critical information about abuse of minors at St. Cecila parish for roughly 6 months?
Survivors appalled: Why did Bishop Burns suppressed critical information about abuse of minors at St. Cecila parish for roughly 6 months?
For immediate release, August 19, 2018
Statement by Lisa Kendzior, Volunteer Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter Leader of SNAP, the Survivors Network (817-773-5907,[email protected])
Bishop Edward Burns, leader of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, failed to notify parishioners in a timely manner that their longtime pastor, Rev. Edmundo Paredes, was under investigation for molesting three teenage boys in the parish a decade ago. Rev. Paredes has apparently fled the country, but the bishop doesn’t know his whereabouts.
Victims want local PA county prosecutors to take action on Catholic abuse
For immediate release, August 17, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, President of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (415-312-5820, [email protected])
Just this week, a grand jury concluded that thousands of clergy sex abuse victims in Pennsylvania have yet to come forward. And separately, a judge ruled that serial abuser Harvey Weinstein can be sued - through an innovative use of a federal sex-trafficking law - even though most of his alleged crimes fall outside the statute of limitations.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/14/entertainment/harvey-weinstein-kadian-noble-lawsuit/index.html
Survivors Demand Federal Investigation Into Church Sexual Violence And Cover-Up
For immediate release: August 15, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, President of SNAP, the Survivors Network (415-312-5820, [email protected])
For more than forty years the widespread and systemic abuse of children and its cover up by officials of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States has been brought to light by survivors.
· In 1974 hearing-impaired victims of Father Lawrence Murphy, including the recently deceased Gary Smith, distributed fliers outside a Milwaukee cathedral protesting the Church’s failure to remove this prolific abuser from ministry.
SNAP responds: Bishop Zubik should step down
For immediate release: Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Statement by Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Leader, [email protected], 636-433-2511
In the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary Pittsburgh's top Catholic official claims "There was no cover up going on" of child sex crimes.
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/08/14/bishop-david-zubik-responds-to-grand-jury-sex-abuse-report/
PA--Grand Jury Report Released: SNAP Responds
For immediate release: August 14, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, President of SNAP, the Survivors Network (415-312-5820, [email protected])
Today a redacted version of the Pennsylvania grand jury report was released.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/08/clergy_abuse_of_children_in_pa.html#report
SNAP commends all those brave victims who came forward and shared their heartbreaking truths. Without their great courage, this day would not have been possible. We also applaud Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who fought so hard to insure that those truths would be made public.
The disgraced former head of the Twin Cities Archdiocese, John Nienstedt, still saying Masses in California's wine country
For immediate release, Monday, August 13, 2018
Statement by: Tim Lennon, President, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP
Archbishop John Nienstedt resigned in shame as Minnesota's top Catholic churchman in June 2015. The archbishop left his archdiocese shortly after it was charged criminally with “failure to protect children." Archbishop Nienstedt’s successor publicly admitted that this was indeed the case.
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