SNAP FACT SHEET: Catholic wrongdoers are praised, not punished
Name of wrongdoer: now retired Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia
What he's accused of: Prosecutors say he concealed dozens of cases of clergy abuse and kept dozens of predators in parishes just a few years ago.
How's he's being honored: He is a featured speaker at the Catholic Men Servant Leaders annual conference in Lexington, Kentucky. Even after harsh grand jury reports blasting him and his colleagues, Pope Benedict sent Rigali to eastern Europe to represent the Vatican and church events.http://www.snapnetwork.org/ky_controversial_cardinal_to_speak_at_event
Where he is now: Retired and living in Knoxville Tennessee
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Name of wrongdoer: now retired Cardinal Edward Egan of New York City
What he's accused of: Egan has been accused of refusing to remove priests accused of sexual abuse when he was bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport from 1988 to 2000.
How's he's being honored: He was recently invited to celebrate mass at the Pueri Cantores Children’s Choir Festival, held at St. Ignatius of Loyola Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. http://www.snapnetwork.org/abuse_survivors_group_wants_egan_mass_for_youths_canceled
Where he is now: Retired
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Name of wrongdoer: Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles
What he's accused of: Roughly 23,000 pages maintained by the archdiocese and various religious orders regarding sex abuse were ordered to be made public. The documents, which he fought in court for years, reveal that his concerns were more about the scandal that would derail the church and his agenda rather than the protection of children. http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2010_press_releases/120310_la_catholic_cardinal_should_be_disinvited_snap_says.htm
How's he's being honored: He appeared publicly with and met privately with Pope Francis in Rome in January. He also spoke at a recent Religious Education Congress in California.
Where he is now: Retired in California.
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Name of wrongdoer: Monsignor Jerome Schmit in Toledo, Ohio
What he's accused of: Interrupted a 1980 police interrogation of Fr. Gerald Robinson for murder of a nun.
How's he's being honored: Msgr. Schmit CYO Athletic Complex and honorary street sign near the Mud Hens’ downtown ballpark naming it “Monsignor Jerome Schmit Way.”
http://www.snapnetwork.org/oh_victims_seek_action_about_2_priests
Where he is now: Deceased
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Name of wrongdoer: Bishop Anthony O'Connell of Knoxville, Tennessee & later Palm Beach, Florida.
What he's accused of: He's an admitted child molester
How's he's being honored: A building in Knoxville is/was named after him.
Where he is now: Deceased
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Name of wrongdoer: Msgr. Jerome Schmidt
What he's accused of: interrupted police interview with Fr Gerald Robinson in regard to murder of nun in Toledo.
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2006/05/06/Police-grilled-on-holes-in-probe-of-nun-s-killing.html
How's he's being honored: Toledo street named after him
http://www.toledofreepress.com/2007/07/06/snap-sign-dishonors-pahl/
Where he is now: deceased
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Name of wrongdoer: Msgr. Robert A Brown
What he's accused of: Sexual abusing a boy in Woodsfield, Ohio
http://home.catholicweb.com/diosteub/index.cfm/NewsItem?id=176116
How's he's being honored: A building is named after him: The Brown Center, Woodsfield, Ohio near St Sylvester's school and church
Where he is now: deceased 1991
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Name of wrongdoer: Cardinal Bernard Law
What he's accused of: covered up sexual abuse committed by priests in Boston Archdiocese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Law
How's he's being honored: Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in 2004
http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blaw.html
Where he is now: Rome
***
Name of wrongdoer: Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese in Missouri
What he's accused of: He was criminally convicted for refusing to report suspected child abuse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Finn_%28bishop%29
How's he's being honored: Still running the KC-St Joe Diocese in good standing
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/15/4826100/kansas-city-catholics-urge-pope.html
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
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