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).
Sacramento Area Orthodox Priest Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse, SNAP Calls for Outreach
An Orthodox priest in the Sacramento area is awaiting trial in jail after being accused of committing lewd acts on a 14-year-old girl. These are obviously serious charges that demand significant outreach efforts by Indian Orthodox officials in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, headquartered in Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Abusive Catholic Priest Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison, SNAP Applauds Decision
A Conroe, TX, Catholic priest who was charged with multiple counts of indecency with a child has pleaded guilty to his crimes and has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. We are grateful for this result and know that children are safer thanks to this conviction.
Locally-based Catholic group names 19 predator priests
Locally-based Catholic group names 19 predator priests
Sixteen of them are ‘outed’ as abusers for the first time here
Thirteen of them are/were in St. Louis, Kansas City & southern MO
Four credibly accused abusers – or more - are missing, SNAP says
One died as recently as 2014 & and least one molested in the 2000s
It Is Past Time for a National Federal Investigation into the Catholic Church
The United States is lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to investigating and preventing cases of Catholic child sexual abuse. We need to catch up and we can start by launching a federal investigation into sexual crimes and cover-ups committed by clergy and staffers.
Boy Scout Bankruptcy Reveals Similarities with Catholic Church Abuse Scandal
As the true depth of sexual abuse and cover-up within the Boy Scouts of America continues to be revealed, it is impossible to ignore the similarities between the abuse scandal within the BSA and that of the Catholic Church.
Questions Must Be Answered About McCarrick’s Use of Church Funds
The recently released report into the crimes of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick raises new questions about the disgraced prelate’s use of discretionary charitable funds. We call on Catholic officials to detail how these funds were spent and to inform affected donors if their money was used to keep McCarrick’s accusers from going to the public.
SNAP and ECA Send Letter to USCCB Regarding Lists of Abusive Clergy
Leaders of SNAP and Ending Clergy Abuse Global have sent a letter to Bishop Timothy Doherty, Chair of the USCCB Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. The groups are asking that Bishop Doherty demand that the remaining dioceses, archdioceses, and religious orders in the United States immediately publish lists of abusive clergy. A copy of their letter is below.
McCarrick Report Shows Close Relationships with Law Enforcement May Have Precluded Investigation, SNAP Calls for Explanations
The bombshell report on the crimes of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick contained expected revelations about how others within the Catholic hierarchy protected and lied for him. Alarmingly, there were also indications that law enforcement officials in the FBI and local police may have chosen not to investigate accusations against McCarrick. This is an extremely disturbing revelation and law enforcement officials should clarify the situation immediately.
The McCarrick Report Shows the Rush to Beatify Pope John Paul II was a Mistake
Yesterday’s release of the massive report into the crimes and cover-ups of the now-disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was devastating to the legacy of not just McCarrick, but also to one of the Catholic Church’s most beloved leaders. Now, Church officials must reconcile the fact that one of their saints is also one of the men responsible for the scandal that the Church finds itself in today.
Catholic Church “Might Review” A Questionnaire Following McCarrick Report
Following the explosive report released yesterday into the crimes of disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, most of our questions revolved around “what changes will the Catholic Church make to prevent this from happening again?” However, one of the few answers offered by Church sources is less than encouraging.