PA - Pittsburgh priest, Fr Valentine, leave of absence for inappropriate facebook postings to minor
No one knows much about the allegation vs. Fr. Valentine, so we must make assumptions. We can assume he's fine, but that may put kids at risk. Or we can assume there's more to this story, and that may help protect kids. So it's clear what the prudent course is - to assume, for now, that we must be careful around Fr. Valentine.
Fr. Valentine is an adult. He can take care of himself. Children, however, can't take care of themselves. They need our help. They need us to be cautious, not complacent. They need us to err, if we must err, on the side of their safety, not on the side of one adult's reputation.
But we needn't just assume. We needn't stop there.
We can also use our voices to push for the truth. Who has more of the truth, and could choose to disclose that truth? Bishop Zubik.
And when do bishops reveal the truth about clergy sex abuse and misconduct accusations? When they're urged to do so by police, prosecutors, parishioners and the public.
That's what we urge St. James parishioners to do and Pittsburgh Catholics to do - lean on Bishop Zubik to be more forthcoming. Zubik, along with his brother bishops across the US, pledged to be "open and transparent" in clergy sex cases. That's what we want him to do, and we believe that's what parishioners should also want.
The easiest way for him to do this: just ask parishioners through his website, diocesan newspaper, parish bulletin, and pulpit announcements. It's not hard, expensive, time-consuming or controversial. In fact, it's remarkably simple. And it's what a caring shepherd should want to do.
Please join us in leaning on the bishop to take this simple step.
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 1 comment