MO- Vatican investigates Kansas City bishop, SNAP responds
For immediate release: Monday, September 29, 2014
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 503 0003, SNAPdorris@gmail.com)
What is to investigate? Years ago, Finn was found guilty of breaking the law and knowingly and repeatedly hiding evidence of child sex crimes from police. Because of his selfish and callous crime, more innocent little girls and their families were hurt by then Fr. Shawn Rattigan. Both Francis and Benedict should have ousted and defrocked Finn long ago. Doesn’t common sense and human decency strongly suggest that Finn has no place in ministry?
Secular investigations trump church “investigations” If Francis wants to investigate complicit church officials, there are plenty who merit it. He need not start with one whose guilt has been clearly proven. Francis is doing with Finn what Benedict did with Maciel. It is not enough to grudgingly and belatedly take timid steps against a wrong doer only after his crimes have created an ongoing international controversy. The Pope must be proactive and stern, not reactive and trepid. He must harshly and publicly discipline a number of corrupt, “enabling” church officials if he really intends to protect kids and deter cover-ups.
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/kansas-city-bishop-robert-finn-under-vatican-investigation
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We’ve been around for 25 years and have more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [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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