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).
PA--SNAP responds to accused Allentown priest removed for sex abuse
For immediate release: June 28, 2018
Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader: 636-433-2511, [email protected]
We commend the brave victim for coming forward and taking action. His lawsuit brings to light the accusation about being abused by Monsignor Francis Nave.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/06/27/Allentown-Priest-Francis-Nave-suspended-lawsuit-sexual-abuse-webcam-internet-Roman-Catholic/stories/201806270196
In Memory of Kathy Shaw--A friend, ally, and advocate for survivors
We were saddened today to learn of the passing of Kathy Shaw of BishopAccountability. Her blog, Abuse Tracker (www.bishop-accountability.org/AbuseTracker), is an unrivaled source for all the latest news on abuse. We have been privileged to know and work with Kathy over the years. Thankfully, her blog will continue, but Kathy's dedication and commitment will still be sorely missed.
OH--SNAP responds to accused Columbus priest removed for sex abuse
For immediate release: June 25, 2018
Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader: 636-433-2511, [email protected]
We commend the brave victim for coming forward and reporting the accusation of abuse by Father Pierre Albalaa, an allegation that the church found credible.
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180624/columbus-priest-accused-of-abuse-in-los-angeles
The courage of the survivors telling their story provides hope for healing and protecting children today.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court blocks release of grand jury report—victims group responds
For immediate release, June 21, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, President, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), [email protected], 415-312-5820
We are absolutely sick to learn that the long anticipated release of the grand jury investigation into six Catholic dioceses has been indefinitely blocked by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pa-supreme-court-blocks-grand-jury-report-20180620.html
KS- Priest with multiple allegations is defrocked, SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Statement by Melanie Sakoda, Secretary, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), [email protected], 925-708-6175
A Kansas City priest with multiple allegations of abuse was apparently quietly defrocked months ago, according to a small announcement in The Leaven. Father John H. Wisner was laicized by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann last December, with the decision affirmed by the Vatican in March.
https://issuu.com/theleaven/docs/leaven_05-25-18
Page 7
Survivors Respond: Cardinal McCarrick removed from ministry for allegation of sexual abuse
For immediate release, June 20, 2018, Tim Lennon, President, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), [email protected], 415-312-5820
The former Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, has been removed from ministry in response to allegations he sexually abused a teen.
Cardinal McCarrick is well known to survivors as a person who protected the church hierarchy at the cost of children and minors. He lobbied against reforming the restrictive Statute of Limitation laws, opposed having priests report sexual abuse of children to the police, and criticized victims who delayed reporting because memories of their horrific trauma was repressed.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/legislation/McCarrick_decries_MD.htm
http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_statements/2006_statements/051606_resignation_cardinal_mccarrick.htm
http://www.snapnetwork.org/survivors_voice/serrano_church_unlikely.htm
OH--Survivors Alerted: Accused priest working in Youngstown parish
Survivors Alerted: Accused priest working in Youngstown parish
For immediate release: Thursday, June 14, 2018
Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader: 636-433-2511, [email protected]
SNAP "Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests" has learned from a concerned parishioner of the Youngstown Diocese, that credibly accused priest, Fr John Hammer, is working and living at St Michael parish in Canton, OH.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org
According to historic records, Hammer was removed from the Youngstown Diocese in 2002 after admitting to abuse of altar boy in 1980-1983. He was then moved to the Saginaw Mi diocese and was also accused of abuse there.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2018/03_04/2018_04_14_RomanCatholicDioceseofSaginaw_DiocesePublishes.htm
Mexico--SNAP has not changed its position on working with the Church
For immediate release June 13, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, Volunteer President of the Board of Directors of SNAP, the Survivors Network (415-312-5820, [email protected])
There has been some recent media coverage regarding a new alliance between “SNAPMexico” and the Catholic Church in that country.
SNAP has traditionally declined to partner with the Church hierarchy due to its historic and systematic cover up of clergy sexual abuse. We have not changed that position, and this press announcement never came through our organization headquarters in St. Louis.
Vatican--Accepting the resignation of Chilean bishop a start, but survivors’ group wants more decisive action
For immediate release June 12, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, Volunteer President of the Board of Directors of SNAP, the Survivors Network (415-312-5820, [email protected])
Yesterday the Vatican made a brief announcement saying that Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Bishop Juan Barros Madrid. The bishop had been accused of covering up child sexual abuse by Father Fernando Karadima. Survivor Juan Carlos Cruz, one of those victimized by the priest, tweeted that this represented "a new day for the Catholic Church in Chile."
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-accepts-resignation-chilean-bishop-center-abuse-scandal
PA--Survivors Respond: Grand Jury reports to be released
For immediate release: Monday, June 11, 2018
Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader: 636-433-2511, [email protected]
The protection of children is always the right thing to do, thus it is a positive step that the PA Grand Jury reports will be made public so that those who enabled and covered up sex crimes can be exposed and held accountable.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/11/pennsylvania-catholic-church-abuse-allegations-report
Hopefully these expansive Pennsylvania Grand Jury reports will motivate Attorney Generals in other states to do the same kind of investigations. The corrupt system of enabling and covering up child sex crimes within the Catholic church is the same in every diocese in the United States of America and its territories (e.g. Guam).
https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/05/22/third-abuse-lawsuit-filed-against-father-adrian-cristobal/631667002/
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