MN – Accused priest reinstated, SNAP responds
For immediate release Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
On December 26, 2017, the Diocese of Crookston announced that it was reinstating a priest, Father Patrick Sullivan, who was placed on administrative leave in early 2016. A lawsuit was filed at that time alleging the clergyman had abused a 15 year old boy in 2008. No criminal charges have been filed against the priest. The clergyman has denied the allegations, and the diocese has stated that no other allegations have been made against him. Following an internal investigation, the diocese found the allegations were not credible. The suit is still pending.
We here at SNAP, the Survivors Network, are concerned that the priest has been reinstated prematurely. The attorneys for the accuser have alleged that documentation discovered during the course of the suit shows that Bishop Michael Hoeppner “received information that showed that Fr. Sullivan posed a serious risk of harm.”
While we have no firsthand information about this case, we do know that statistically speaking the vast majority of those who come forward accusing a clergyman of childhood sexual abuse are telling the truth. We also know from experience that Catholic bishops do not always give complete information about offending priests, even to those who work for them.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2013/09/clergy-abuse/
We encourage anyone who has information about these allegations to speak out, file lawsuits, and report criminal behavior to the police. We also hope that they will reach out to groups like ours, for support and help.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
CONTACT
Melanie Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [email protected]), or Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (314-503-0003, [email protected])
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
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