MO--Victims blast Ft Wood officials over rape case
For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 15
Statement by Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, (Dorris is the Outreach Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests 314 503 0003, [email protected])
A detailed report of sexual abuse by an Army sergeant in today’s Post Dispatch raises troubling questions about how seriously senior officers at Ft. Leonard Wood take the safety of enlisted personnel.
Top Army officials seem determined to focus on the crimes of Sanchez while minimizing the wrongdoing by others who should have prevented those crimes. It’s disingenuous and self-serving to portray Sanchez as exceptionally shrewd and manipulative and able to “get around” safety protocols.
Frankly, many rapists are shrewd and manipulative. That’s why it’s crucial that those who ignore or conceal sex crimes be punished as much or more than those who commit them.
An investigator found that the “command climate contributed to the lack of reporting from trainees on SSG Sanchez.” That’s a damning conclusion, and one that rings true to us. And that’s what top brass must effectively address. Fixating on the offender won’t do this. Only a deep, sincere and thorough self examination – coupled with harsh punishments for those who, wittingly or unwittingly, enabled Sanchez’ crimes – will make Ft. Leonard Wood safer.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We were founded in 1988 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, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314-503-0003, [email protected], Barbara Blaine 312-399-4747, [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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