PA Class-action suit demands release of all names of accused priests, SNAP responds
For immediate release, Sept. 17, 2018
Statement by Judy Jones, Volunteer SNAP Midwest Regional Leader, 636-433-2511, [email protected]
A class-action lawsuit was filed today in Pennsylvania asking the court to force officials in the state's eight Roman Catholic dioceses to disclose all records pertaining to child sexual abuse since 1948. The action is not asking for money, only transparency for the community and justice for the victims.
Church officials have consistently said that they want transparency. So we anticipate that they should welcome, not fight, this action.
We applaud those who clearly want to expose wrongdoers, protect kids and end cover ups.
Parishioners, parents, police, prosecutors and the public need and deserve to know the names of every Catholic employee, current and past, who committed or concealed these heinous crimes. Releasing these names also helps victims, who are still scared and silent, to know that they are not alone.
The Pennsylvania Hotline continues to take calls: 855-363-6548 Please call.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has a network of more than 25,000 survivors and supporters. Our website isSNAPnetwork.org )
Contact - Judy Jones, (636-433-2511, [email protected]), Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]), Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, [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