PA - SNAP calls for Diocese of Pittsburgh to be open about accused priests
Today, we called on Bishop Zubik to live up to his promise to be “open and honest” and to inform his flock about recently-outed priest Fr. Michael Ledoux. But Fr. Ledoux is not the only priest that Bishop Zubik has been secretive about.
Fr. Daniel Valentine, who was removed last fall from ministry, is a priest who was accused of inappropriate contact with a minor and about whom Bishop Zubik has been silent. Like Fr. Ledoux, we expect there to be more to the case than was originally revealed, and we call on Bishop Zubik to immediately end his secrecy surrounding these two priests and to open up about what crimes they are accused of, what evidence exists, and what the diocese plans to do about them.
At a bare minimum, Bishop Zubik should, for the safety of kids, disclose where Fr. Valentine is now living.
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