United Nations Questions Laws that Protect Abusive Priests
For immediate release, January 31, 2019
We are grateful that U.N. officials continue to pressure politicians to better protect children, especially in institutional settings like churches and particularly the Catholic community.
All too often, secular authorities tread lightly around religious institutions, even when the safety of boys and girls is at stake. All too often, tight bonds between politicians and church figures enable clerics who commit or conceal heinous crimes to escape detection and punishment. All too often, church bureaucrats and lobbyists weaken secular laws designed to prevent abuse.
These disturbing patterns need to be disrupted. The well-being of the young must trump the comfort, convenience and careers of those entrusted to care for them. External pressure from governmental entities is often the best way to do this, especially in institutions like the Catholic Church that are ancient, rigid, secretive and male dominated.
Just five years ago, the Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a blistering report accusing the Vatican of fostering a “code of silence” that “systematically” put the reputation of the Church and offending priests over the protection of child victims. We in SNAP are proud to have been a part of that effort.
Politicians take note: the days of safe, cozy and mutually beneficial relationships that involve overlooking child sex crimes and cover ups in churches are waning.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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
But the Vatican did, in fact, just that when the USCCB met in Baltimore. I feel like this is something that we could address .