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).
CT--Rabbi sued for alleged child sex abuse; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
A New Haven rabbi is accused of molesting a child. We applaud the brave man who has filed this new child sex abuse lawsuit. http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/daniel_greer_lawsuit/
Eliyahu Mirlis of New Jersey accuses Rabbi Daniel Greer of repeatedly raping and molesting students at his New Haven yeshiva. Greer is associated with two schools in New Haven.
NY--Syracuse bishop must do outreach in child porn case
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
Today, a Syracuse man will likely plead guilty in a child pornography case. Regardless of what happens in court, however, Syracuse Bishop Robert Cunningham has a moral and civic duty to aggressively seek out others who may have suspicions or knowledge of his crimes and beg them to call law enforcement.
MN--Another priest accused of child sex crimes; Victims respond
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home,[email protected])
Another accused Crookston predator priest has been suspended because of credible reports of child sex crimes. That makes at least seven publicly accused Crookston area child molesting Catholic clerics (according to BishopAccountability.org)
Bishop Michael Hoeppner should spread the word about this move far and wide and aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered the cleric’s crimes.
Over the weekend, Fr. Pat Sullivan was temporarily suspended for abuse that happened eight or nine years ago. He recently worked in Dillworth and Hawley.
http://www.kvrr.com/news/local-news/Dilworth-Hawley-Priest-Accused-of-Sexual-Misconduct/39343722
USA--Ten sex-offending church workers are listed on website
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 2016
For more information: David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbra Graber (540-214-8874, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, [email protected], Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Ten sex-offending church workers are listed on website
They’re from CA, PA, VA, OH, KS, OR, IN and Manitoba, Canada
Each is an admitted, convicted or credibly accused clergy or church employee
Group vows to “expose more who commit sex crimes & misdeeds against kids & adults"
Victims challenge Mennonite officials: “Burden of stopping predators shouldn’t fall on us”
A support group for survivors of sexual abuse is adding five more names to their recent on-line posting of what they call “sexual predators” in Anabaptist Mennonite institutions. The organization promises to keep expanding the list “for the protection of others.”
PA-- Predator priest who worked in Philly is sentenced again
For immediate release: Monday, May 2, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home,[email protected])
Last Friday, a serial predator priest - who worked in Philadelphia and abused kids in Oklahoma - was sentenced to 20-40 more years behind bars for more child sex crimes he committed in Michigan. For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, we hope he stays behind bars for as long as possible. And we hope that Philadelphia Catholic officials will spread this news and use church bulletins, pulpit announcements, and church websites to aggressively seek out others who he may have hurt.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_06_04_Ross_RecordsShow_James_Rapp_5.htm
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2002_12_01_Sallah_ShameSin.htm
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/04/29/pirest-james-rapp-sexual-abuse/83726260/
SD--Victims blast archaic SD child safety law
OK--Predator priest who worked in OK is sentenced again
For immediate release: May 2, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915home,[email protected])
Last Friday, a serial predator priest - who worked in Oklahoma and abused two Duncan boys - was sentenced to 40 years for more child sex crimes he committed in Michigan. For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, we hope he stays behind bars for as long as possible. And we hope that Oklahoma Catholic officials will spread this news and use church bulletins, pulpit announcements, and church websites to aggressively seek out others who he may have hurt.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_06_04_Ross_RecordsShow_James_Rapp_5.htm
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2002_12_01_Sallah_ShameSin.htm
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/04/29/pirest-james-rapp-sexual-abuse/83726260/
We're grateful that Fr. James Francis Rapp was charged again, pled guilty to more child sex crimes.
Vatican--SNAP blasts “another few distracting papal words on abuse”
For immediate release: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003 cell, [email protected])
In a purportedly “forceful” tone, Pope Francis said child molesters must be “severely punished” but “did not specifically mention the church or its response to abuse.”
So what? When will a few papal sentences about how bad abuse is stop being news?
Just this week, a convicted priest who assaulted a California teenager was promoted to head an Oklahoma parish with a parochial school, until parishioners protects and their archbishop backed down.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/ok_archbishop_says_he_ll_remove_convicted_priest_victims_respond
USA--Catholic church loses $90 million a year from theft?
For immediate release: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
A new Associated Press story cites “lax financial controls” in the Catholic church, quotes one source as saying that the US church may lose $90 million annually from theft and cites an independent survey that shows that 85% of US dioceses have experienced recent embezzlement.
“American Catholics drop roughly $150 million into the Sunday collection plate every week,” the AP reports.
UT--Predator priest who worked in Utah is sentenced again
For immediate release: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, 314 645 5915 home, [email protected])
On Friday, an already imprisoned serial predator priest who allegedly abused Utah boys was sentenced to 40 more years for hurting other kids in Michigan.
For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, we hope he stays behind bars for as long as possible. And we hope that Utah Catholic officials will spread this news and use church bulletins, pulpit announcements, and church websites to aggressively seek out others who he may have hurt. We believe that’s their moral and civic duty.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2002_06_04_Ross_RecordsShow_James_Rapp_5.htm
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news/2002_12_01_Sallah_ShameSin.htm
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/04/29/pirest-james-rapp-sexual-abuse/83726260/