NV - "Las Vegas bishop must act now," victims group says
A Las Vegas jury has awarded $500,000 to a man who was sexually abused as a boy by Fr. James Patrick Feeney.
Now that it's been proven that Feeney molested at least one Nevada boy, it's crucial that Las Vegas' Catholic bishop reach out to others he Feeney have hurt. It's irresponsible for the church hierarchy to be passive and silent here. They have ample resources. They should use those resources to find, in Jesus' words, the lost and wounded sheep.
Nevada Catholic officials voluntarily let Feeney work in churches in the state. They are responsible, in part, for the harm he did in Nevada. These church officials have a moral duty to aggressively try to find - and help - anyone else who was assaulted by Feeney. They also have an obligation to prod witnesses and whistelblowers to speak up too, so that police and prosecutors might pursue more criinal charges against Feeney.
This is especially true because Feeney walks free today. Though he's elderly, Feeney's still a threat to kids. He belongs behind bars. Las Vegas' bishop can help get Feeney locked up, but only if the bishop shows courage and compassion and takes action.
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