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).
Philadelphia Catholic priest sentenced for theft of parish funds, SNAP urges openness in Church investigation
Monsignor Joseph C. McLoone, a well-liked parish priest who was assigned to St. Joseph’s Church in Downingtown, pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing more than $30,000 in parish funds, although when he was arrested, the amount of money he was alleged to have stolen was closer to $100,000. We cannot help but wonder if the Archdiocese was agreeable to this plea bargain because they did not want the details of the cleric's ongoing sexual misconduct aired in open court.
Southern Baptist Executive Committee again fails to agree on guidelines for an investigation into sex abuse allegations, SNAP urges them to vote to protect children
After a long meeting on Tuesday (September 28), the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) again failed to agree on the ground rules for a third-party investigation of the denomination’s handling of child sex abuse accusations. We call on the Executive Committee to stop dragging their feet on procedural steps and to stand up for protecting the boys and girls who attend their churches.
We applaud the SBC members' decision in June of 2021 to stop handling investigations internally, and we are dumbfounded that the Executive Committee will not waive attorney-client privilege as the denomination wants. These confidential exchanges are crucial to third-party investigators if the SBC wants a full and transparent look at how sexual abuse allegations have been handled in the past and, more importantly, to determine if there are predatory ministers or youth counselors still active today. The protection of young lives should be the priority, not the protection of the assets of the organization or the members of the Executive Committee.
The number of those on the Executive Committed who support waiving attorney-client privilege appears to be growing, and we are heartened by this development. Rather than use the privilege to continue to keep abusers and enablers hidden, the Committee should side with those who want a fully independent investigation that has full access to records and testimonies. This is the best way to better protect children within their denomination. Now it is time for the rest of the Executive Committee to see the light and to agree to move forward in a way that is transparent.
CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Shaun Dougherty, SNAP President, [email protected], 814-341-8386, Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected]),
Six new allegations levied against five former priests in the Diocese of Sacramento, two have criminal warrants and have fled the country; SNAP responds
The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento recently updated their list of "credibly accused" clergy by adding six new allegations against five former priests, Gerardo Beltran Rico, William Feeser, Francisco Javier Garcia, William Hold, and Uriel Ojeda. While all five men were already included on the Diocesan list, the new allegations were received through the Independent Compensation Program, which concluded its work this past summer.
While Sacramento does a very good job of providing information about their accused clerics compared to other Catholic Dioceses, we wonder if it could do more to locate both Rico and Garcia, who have criminal warrants for their arrest in the state of California and are believed to be in Mexico. If the Diocese is as sincere about seeking atonement for the horrible sins committed, perhaps they could post a substantial reward for the capture of these two wanted and dangerous men, and advertise this in both countries.
Archdiocese of Denver priest facing allegations of sexually abusing a child; SNAP stands with the victim.
The Archdiocese of Denver recently informed parishioners of St. Mary Catholic Church in Aspen that Fr. Michael J. O’Brien has been accused of sexually abusing a child during his time in their parish. Although the priest denies the allegations, they have been reported to law enforcement, and Fr. O'Brien has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both criminal and Church investigations.
False allegations of child sexual abuse are extremely rare. We applaud this young victim for coming forward so soon after his abuse and we recognize how difficult it must have been to tell his story. SNAP is committed to standing by all survivors of sexual abuse by trusted authority figures. This victim's bravery will help to keep other children safe.
SNAP applauds lawsuit filed against the Catholic Diocese of Nashville
A lawsuit was filed Monday asserting that the Catholic Diocese of Nashville and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, turned a blind eye to the horrific crimes committed by the director of religious education, Michael D. Lewis. The lawsuit cites these Catholic institutions failed to stop Lewis from repeatedly raping and sexually exploiting a child on church property from 2014–2017. The alleged perpetrator, Michael D. Lewis, faces trial in February 2022 in Rutherford County on felony sex crimes charges related to this abuse.
The Vatican accepts the resignation of Bishop DiMarzio of Brooklyn, SNAP reacts.
The Pope has accepted the resignation of 77-year-old Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who was recently cleared by the Vatican of sexual abuse allegations. The Bishop was accused of abuse in a lawsuit filed in November of 2020, alleging that he had abused a boy while he was a priest in Jersey City. That accusation came after Bishop DiMarzio had just finished leading an investigation into the Diocese of Buffalo over accusations of episcopal mishandling of clerical sex abuse cases there. A second lawsuit was filed in March 2021 alleging that the prominent Brooklyn prelate abused a child while working as a priest in New Jersey.
A former Catholic youth minister faces multiple charges involving a child; SNAP wants more information from the Archdiocese
Douglas Johnson faces six criminal charges related to the unlawful videotaping of a girl in Chesapeake. Johnson worked as a youth minister at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston from 2005 to 2018. Prior to being employed at St. John Neumann, Johnson volunteered for more than two decades in the youth program there and at St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Church, also in Reston. During most of the time that he was volunteering, Johnson worked for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Priest from Catholic Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend resigns amid allegations of child sexual abuse; SNAP is concerned
The Diocese of Ft. Wayne-South Bend announced today that Fr. David Huneck has resigned following an allegation he sexually abused a minor. The priest was only ordained in June of 2018, having previously worked in pastoral ministry and as a deacon. Fr. Huneck was assigned as pastor of Saint Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City and also as chaplain of Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne.
Increasing discord between religious institutions and the Boy Scouts of America during bankruptcy case; SNAP stands with the survivors
The Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy has caused religious groups to be concerned with their own potential liability in these cases. Many faith communities sponsored scout units and allowed the church-owned property to be used as a meeting space for the BSA groups. But some had even deeper entanglements. While it is troubling to those religious organizations that sponsored scout groups to realize that they are not protected under bankruptcy, it is troubling to us that many of those abused in scouting were harmed by chaplains or other representatives of the sponsoring faith community.
Abusive Priest Granted Early Release, SNAP Urges Vigilance
Fr. Raymond Joseph Hemmerle, a Catholic cleric twice convicted of child sexual abuse, will be set free on October 1st. While we understand and respect the American judicial system, we fear for the safety of children upon his release, especially given the distressing fact that he will not be forced to register as a sex offender.