SNAP responds to new lawsuit filed against two dioceses in the southwest
This story is a sad reminder of how often “more of the same” is perpetuated nationwide by church officials. It is beyond disappointing that a decade after top church officials pledged to be open and honest about clergy sex crimes, we continue to find out how bishops use retreat centers and other parishes to hide priests who are suspected child predators.
When the first step should be for church officials to call police, they instead secret the priests out of town and later claim no knowledge when these predators have victimized another child. Shame on them. The bishops of these two dioceses (El Paso and Las Cruces) who were in charge at the time Fr. Santiago and Br. Samuel Martinez were abusing children should do everything possible now to reach out to their victims and urging them to call law enforcement
We applaud these three brave victims for coming forward. We hope that taking legal steps will help bring them the peace they deserve. Through their actions today, they have greatly helped protect other children from predators not only in New Mexico and Texas, but across the country.
Read the story here: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_20329132/lawsuits-allege-sex-abuse-by-ex-cathedral-principal?source=most_viewed
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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