NM- New Mexico Catholic bishop to be named tomorrow
We are not optimistic about Las Cruces' next Catholic bishop. Pope Benedict has appointed a number of bishops in recent years who have terrible track records on child safety.
And we're disappointed with Bishop Ramirez' handling of pedophile priest cases. Roughly 30 of his brother bishops have posted on their diocesan websites the names of proven, admitted and credibly accused child molesting clerics. Ramirez' has not.
In 2002, Bishop Ramirez said that the diocese, in its nearly 20-year history, had not faced any abuse suits. Weeks later, however, he admitted that he had let an admitted molester, Fr. David Bentley, work in a parish since 2000. (Catholic officials had paid $70,000 in 1997 to a man who said Bentley abused him and his siblings at a children's home in the 1970s.
We wish Ramirez well in retirement. But let's not re-write history and ignore the fact that Bishop Ramirez, like most of his Catholic colleagues, has acted recklessly and callously and secretively about children's safety.
No matter who replaces him, it's still crucial that victims, witnesses and whistleblowers report known and suspected clergy sex crimes and cover ups to secular officials, not church officials.
We hope the new bishop posts predators' names on his website and begins an aggressive effort to reach out to those who are still suffering because of the heinous crimes of child molesting Catholic clerics.
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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