OH-WV--SNAP responds: Steubenville & Wheeling-Charleston Diocese do not release names of accused priests
For immediate release: Monday, April 23, 2018
Statement by: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader, 636-433-2511, [email protected]
We are always grateful when a diocese releases the names of accused priests. But the Steubenville Diocese and the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese say they have no intention of releasing the names of their priests who are credibly accused of child sex abuse.
http://www.weirtondailytimes.com/news/local-news/2018/04/dioceses-wont-name-sex-offenders/
They do not plan to follow the example of the Diocese of Erie, PA, to be more open and transparent. The Erie Diocese posted their names on accused priest earlier this month.
http://www.eriercd.org/policyupdate.htm
We will never know how many children have been put at risk because of the Steubenville Diocese and the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese decisions to conceal the names of accused priests like have been posted on over 30 other US diocese. We will never know how many were harmed because these two diocese chose to protect itself instead of innocent children.
In the meantime, we urge anyone who has been victimized in the Steubenville Diocese or the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese to protect children by calling police, getting help by calling therapists, and receiving comfort by calling support groups like ours.
(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 almost 30 years and have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have survivors who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contacts -
Judy Jones ( 636-433-2511, [email protected]), Tim Lennon, (415-312-5820,[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