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).
UT--LDS Church flat-out wrong about one-on-one interviews with children, Victims group says
Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Leader, [email protected], 949-322-7434
No other reputable institutional church, private or public school, sports group, youth serving organization, or community center allows one-on-one meetings between adults and children. Why? It’s an invitation for sexual abuse. Why is the LDS church endorsing this horrible practice?
This week, the LDS Church defended conducting one-on-one interviews between high-ranking church officials and 12-to-17-year-old congregation members, saying that "Personal interviews are an important part of ministering to those in a congregation.” In these interviews, many of the adults ask the children about sex, masturbation, and pornography.
Alabama sends strong message to victims
For immediate release, Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Statement by Barbara Dorris, SNAP Executive Director, 314-503-0003 [email protected]
We applaud the wisdom and the courage of the people in Alabama for sending such a strong message to any child being sexually abused. If you are or have been sexually assaulted and find the courage to step forward, you will be believed, and we will help you. Children everywhere need to know that help is available, and the adults will step in to protect them. We hope others will follow their amazing example.
For children to be safe we need the whole community to be involved and make decisions based on what will make it easier for a child to step forward and report abuse.
Newly convicted priest worked in Sacramento, AZ, AL
Newly convicted priest worked in Sacramento, AZ, AL
Allegations of abuse may go back decades
Victim was Wisconsin 7-9 year old girl
Before plea deal, priest worked in parishes with schools, Sac Boy Scouts, Maricopa Children’s Hospital
This week, a former Sacramento, AZ, and AL priest will be sentenced in Wisconsin after pleading guilty to reduced charges of sexual assault on a child under 13.
Fr. Robert Marsicek pled guilty Milwaukee in October. He was facing charges of first degree sexual assault for sexually assaulting a seven to nine-year-old girl from 2007 to 2010. http://fox6now.com/2017/10/23/priest-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-school-aged-girl-pleads-guilty-to-amended-charges/
According to publicly available sources, however, as early as 2005, church officials had ordered Marsicek to “stop hugging and kissing children” and knew that he had “boundary issues” with children. http://www.bishop-accountability.org/assign/Marsicek_Robert_R_sds.htm
NY--Archdiocese pays 3 men $250k each, maintains secrecy, and covers for abuser priest
For immediate release Monday, December 11, 2017
Statement by Kate Bochte SNAP leader 630-768-1860, [email protected])
Three Hudson Valley men have bravely disclosed years of sexual abuse by a since-defrocked Catholic priest, Gennaro “Jerry” Gentile, leading the Archdiocese of New York to pay each man $250,000 in compensation.
We commend these men for coming forward. Doing so will likely help prevent child abuse, help others who have been or are being abused share their own accounts, and help hold those who commit or enable sexual abuse accountable for their actions.
TX--Priest gets life sentence in cold-case murder of Texas beauty queen
For immediate release, December 11, 2017
Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected]
SNAP applauds the judicial system for according justice to second-grade teacher Irene Garza, to her family and friends, and for bringing her murderer, Father John Feit, to accountability after many years. This is a case that took nearly 60 years to solve.
From the outset, strong indicators suggested that Feit should have been considered a primary suspect in Irene Garza’s murder. But as we learned during this trial and as Reuters reports, Catholic officials leaned on justice officials almost immediately after Garza’s murder, asking them not to consider Feit as a suspect. Feit was, in fact, shielded for years by Catholic officials, though a former Trappist monk had known from counseling Feit three years after Garza’s murder that Feit had murdered Garza. This former monk testified about this in Feit’s trial.
TX – Priest found guilty of decades old murder, SNAP responds
For immediate release Friday, December 8, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
Yesterday a jury found former Catholic priest John Feit guilty of the April 1960 murder of Irene Garza, a McAllen schoolteacher and former Miss South Texas.
http://www.themonitor.com/irenegarza/article_95ac295c-dbb4-11e7-86cd-27a391da0db6.html
SNAP has worked for years to educate the public that sexual abuse happens in #ChurchToo
For immediate release Thursday, December 7, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
Recently Hannah Paasch wrote a heartfelt piece for the Huffington Post, sharing her truth that sexual abuse happens in #ChurchToo, and that the “purity culture” teaches women that when it does, it is their fault.
SNAP, the Survivors Network, agrees wholeheartedly with Ms. Paasch. We have been working to educate the public and hold religious leaders accountable since 1988. We have decades of experience in providing a safe place for victims to meet and share their experiences. But, there is still much work to be done.
Time Magazine names “The Silence Breakers” as 2017 Person of the Year, Victims group responds
For immediate release Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
Time Magazine today honored the women who have been speaking up about sexual abuse and harassment as its 2017 Person of the Year.
http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/
SNAP, the Survivors Network, commends Time Magazine for this recognition of the powerful #MeToo stories being posted by women across the country and around the world. Their voices are helping to make the world a safer place. As more and more women tell their truths, others will be inspired by their example to come forward, speak up, and get help. If the pressure continues, better avenues of reporting and employer/industry accountability will eventually be implemented.
TX – SNAP weighs in on testimony in trial of former priest accused of murder
For immediate release Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
Three women who knew John Feit more than half a century ago, when he was still an active clergyman, testified to disturbing behavior by him as his trial for the murder of Irene Garza continued. Ms. Garza, a young and beautiful female parishioner, reportedly went to the former priest for confession before her death. According to the three women’s descriptions, Father Feit was “anything but priest-like.”
UK - The children of Smyllum tell their heartbreaking stories, SNAP responds
For immediate release Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry is holding hearings on conditions in Scotland’s care homes. Survivors of Smyllum Park in Lanarkshire, where up to 400 children were buried in an unmarked grave, recently began testifying before the inquiry.
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