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).
TX--Accused Notre Dame predator priest still on the job; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Friday, May 29
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Catholic officials are putting innocent children at risk by keeping an accused predator priest on the job even though he was sued for child sex abuse more last week ago.
We demand that staff at Notre Dame, the Ft. Wayne diocese and the San Antonio diocese suspend him immediately. They are acting recklessly and callously and are breaking the US bishops’ child sex abuse policy.
TX--Dallas church apologizes to wife of sex offender; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Friday, May 29
Statement by Amy Smith, Dallas co-leader of SNAP (281-748-4050, [email protected])
An officials at a large Dallas church says he’ll apologize on Sunday to a woman whose mistreatment by church officials has generated a firestorm of protest. We’re not impressed by the pastor’s promises.
POLAND/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC- Polish official visits Dominican Republic to discuss alleged sex crimes by Archbishop Józef Wesołowski
For immediate release: Friday, May 29, 2015
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
We are grateful that a Polish official has gone to the Dominican Republic to discuss alleged child sex crimes by Polish Catholic clerics. We hope the trip results in secular criminal charges against one cleric and more charges against the other.
MO--Protestant whistleblower quits at college; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Thursday, May 28
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
A Bible college professor has quit his job over a clergy sex abuse and cover up case. It’s heart-breaking.
OH--Priest helps sex offender; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday, May 27
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
We are grateful that Nordonia Hills school board president James Virost resigned today and we hope that Fr. Ralph Wiatrowsky of St. Barnabas will soon be disciplined. Both men wrote a judge essentially urging a lighter sentence for a convicted child sex offender (former Nordonia Hills school board President Steve Bittel). They should be ashamed of themselves.
MN--Predator priest passes away
For immediate release: Thursday, May 28
Statement by Verne Wagner of Duluth, Northeast MN SNAP director (218- 340-1277, [email protected])
We are glad that a predator priest has passed away and can no longer hurt kids. We’re glad too that his victims can hopefully sleep better at night knowing that he can’t assault any more children.
http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/news/obituary-fr-richard-william-eckroth-osb/
MI--Predator priest is indicted; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Thursday, May 28
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected])
An already convicted and imprisoned serial predator priest is being indicted today in Michigan on more child sex charges. (He pled not guilty.) This should happen more often.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is filing more child sex charges against James Francis Rapp who allegedly molested kids at Jackson Lumen Christi Catholic High School in Jackson in the 1980s.
AR-- Duggar sued state abuse agency; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday, May 27
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, [email protected])
It’s time for the Duggar family to break their silence about admitted child sex crimes by one of their own, especially in light of new revelations that they sued an Arkansas child safety agency. And it’s time for an independent law enforcement investigation into this serious matter.
NY--Report on abuse/cover up at Horace Mann in NY; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday, May 27
Statement by Mary Caplan of New York City, SNAP Leader, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (917 439 4187, [email protected])
We’re very grateful to the Horace Mann alums and victims who have painstakingly and courageously put this report together. Kids are safer because of their courage and hard work.
But of course Horace Mann officials, not Horace Mann victims, should have shown this courage and done this hard work. Tragically, they refused. They also refused to cooperate with this investigation in any way.
TX--Notre Dame priest accused of abuse; SNAP responds
For immediate release: Wednesday, May 27
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
Notre Dame officials should immediately suspend a priest on their faculty who is accused of child sex crimes. They, along with San Antonio Catholic officials, should aggressively seek out others who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes by the cleric or cover ups by his church supervisors.