SNAP reacts to publication of list of credibly accused clergy in Indiana
For immediate release, September 19, 2018
Statement by Becky Ianni, SNAP Board Treasurer, 703-801-6044, [email protected]
Yesterday the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend published the names of priests and deacons who have been "credibly accused" of the sexual abuse of minors in that diocese.
https://todayscatholic.org/diocese-of-fort-wayne-south-bend-publishes-names-of-credibly-accused/
While we are thankful that Bishop Kevin Rhoades released the names of these 18 clergymen, we have to ask the question: why now? The Bishop could have released this list in 2010 when he took the helm of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, but he didn’t. Is this sudden transparency due to what was said about Bishop Rhoades in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report?
The Bishop previously worked in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Grand Jury Report specifically mentioned him and said that he cautioned against publicly releasing information about an accused priest, William Presley. In a letter to the Vatican, Bishop Rhoades wrote, "Were this information to become known, especially in the light of his offers of public assistance at Mass in serval (sic) parishes, great public scandal would arise within this diocese."
Whatever the reason for Bishop Rhoades' sudden embrace of transparency, victims are helped to heal and children are safer when the accused are named.
However, we also have to ask if the Bishop's list is really complete? Father Ralph Luczak, who worked in the Diocese, can be found on Bishops Accountability, the watchdog group that has been documenting the Catholic sex abuse scandal. However, Father Luczak is not on the list released yesterday by Bishop Rhoades.
http://bishop-accountability.org/member/psearch.jsp
SNAP believes that the only way to learn the whole truth about any diocese or archdiocese is through a secular investigation where the investigators have subpoena power and can give an unbiased report. We hope that the Attorney General in Indiana will launch just such an investigation.
(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: Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, [email protected]), Tim Lennon (415-312-5820 [email protected]), Melanie Sakoda (925-708-6175, [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
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