PA -- Group seeks victims of ex-western PA minister
For immediate release: Friday, April 10
For more information: David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 314 566 9790, [email protected], da[email protected]
Pastor sentenced for child sex abuse
Prosecutor says he was in Mercer County PA
Group seeks “victims, witnesses & whistleblowers”
It urges “anyone with info” to “speak up & get help”
A Protestant minister who worked in Mercer County was sentenced this week to 15 years in prison for abusing two girls in 2001 and 2002 in New York.
http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/article_7a9364de-dc9b-11e4-9124-0783fda66e05.html
Rev. Roy Harriger was pastor of Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Yates, NY. He was arrested at his home in Middleport, NY in November 2013 after a state police investigation.
Rev. Harriger also spent time in Michigan, in the Milford---Oakland County area.
“We desperately hope that anyone else who may have seen, suspected or suffered Rev. Harriger’s crimes – in Pennsylvania, Michigan or New York – will find the courage and strength to step forward now,” said David Clohessy of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “It’s possible that Rev. Harriger could be prosecuted for more child sex crimes or that his church colleagues might be prosecuted for helping to conceal those crimes.”
Clohessy also stressed that coming forward often helps victims heal.
“You can recover from childhood trauma and betrayal, but not if you insist on trying to carry this awful burden alone,” he said. “It’s crucial that you break your silence and tell a relative, partner, friend, therapist or a support group like ours. That’s the first step toward rebuilding your shattered trust and self-esteem.”
Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone (Joe.Cardone@orleanscountyny.gov), in an email, informed SNAP that Rev. Harriger spent time in Mercer County.
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
Showing 2 comments