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).
VA--Support group hears from others hurt by university official
PRESS STATEMENT March 3, 2016, For immediate release
Statement by Barbra Graber, Leader, Anabaptist-Mennonite Chapter of *SNAP, 540-214-8874, [email protected]
After a Mennonite university official was accused of soliciting prostitution, our group urged anyone who might have seen, suspected or suffered any misdeeds by him to come forward. We have since heard from others who he hurt.
He is Luke Hartman, a former Vice President at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. In January, he was arrested and he resigned his post. Days later, the Anabaptist-Mennonite Chapter of SNAP responded with a public statement urging anyone with more information to speak up.
PA--Predator priest sentenced; Victims respond
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 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])
We’re grateful that a central Pennsylvania predator priest will spend 16 years behind bars. We hope now that law enforcement agencies will pursue his church colleagues and supervisors who ignored or hid his crimes.
http://wjactv.com/news/local/former-priest-sentenced-to-16-years-in-prison-for-sexual-abusing-boys
OR--Victims blast Portland archbishop over Spotlight remarks
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 2, 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])
Shame on Portland’s Catholic archbishop for engaging in self-promotion instead of abuse prevention by posturing about the award-winning film “Spotlight.”
http://katu.com/news/local/pdx-archbishop-responds-to-spotlight-movie-popularity
WA--Victims urge Seattle archbishop to act in new sex case
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Statement by Mary Dispenza of Seattle, Seattle SNAP director (425 941 6001, [email protected]
A counselor at a Catholic agency has been arrested for allegedly abusing a teenager in the Seattle archdiocese.
http://komonews.com/news/local/sheriff-drug-counselor-suspected-of-sexual-relationship-with-teen-boy
Until recently Jamie Wright of Marysville worked for the Catholic Community Services Northwest Recovery Center in Burlington. This week, police caught her in a car with a boy. Though one news account said the two have been “in a relationship for months” we stress that this is alleged child sexual abuse.
PA--SNAP: “Other PA bishops must act now”
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 2, 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])
For the safety of kids and the healing of victims, we call on all Pennsylvania bishops to quickly and thoroughly share the names of Altoona predator priests cited in the new grand jury report.
No priest stays in his home diocese forever. Virtually all priests cross diocesan boundaries often and help at churches where their clerical colleagues are sick or on vacation, when seminarians are ordained, when a bishop is installed and for dozens of other reasons.
PA--Victims on Altoona: “Probe is on-going, so act!”
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 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])
The Altoona abuse and cover up investigation is on-going. It’s key to remember that. Just because there are no criminal charges now doesn’t mean there won’t be any later.
We believe it’s the moral and civic duty of every Altoona area Catholic to actively seek out others who saw or suspected or suffered crimes by these 50 predator priests. We believe Altoona area church staff have the same duty. But we know that virtually none of them will take action, because they’re too timid, whether they’re a bookkeeper or a bishop. And since they won’t, it’s crucial that rank-and-file church members do this outreach.
We beg Catholics and citizens to read carefully the parts of the report that deal with how Catholic officials deal with abuse reports now. It’s worth reading this piece from PennLive.com:
The bishop controlled the Allegation Review Board.
NJ--Victims urge bishop to announced predator’s death
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 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])
New Jersey predator priest has passed away. We hope his death of brings some comfort to the courageous victims who came forward and reported his horrific crimes.
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon/index.ssf/2016/03/ex-priest_in_prison_for_sexually_assaulting_alter.html
MA--Victims blast Boston Cardinal over “posturing”
Grand jury report blasts PA bishops; Victims respond
For immediate release: Tuesday, March 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])
Another grand jury has found that Catholic officials respond deceitfully to child sex abuse reports. We’re saddened but not the least bit surprised. It proves what we’ve long maintained: that even now, under the guise of “reform,” bishops continue to deceive parishioners and the public about their on-going efforts to hide abuse.
We hope this investigation will prod similar ones across the US.
MI--Predator priest admits guilt; Victims respond
For immediate release: Monday, Feb. 29, 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])
We're grateful that an ex-priest has pled guilty to more child sex crimes. We hope this news will prod others that he has hurt to come forward. (See attorney general’s news release below.)
Fr. James Francis Rapp has already been convicted on other child sex charges and is imprisoned. So it would have been easy for law enforcement to look the other way when more victims surfaced.
But Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed more child sex charges against him for molesting kids at Jackson Lumen Christi Catholic High School in Jackson in the 1980s.
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