WA – Lawsuit alleging Seattle Archdiocese helped sex abuser secure a public school position recently settled, victims respond
For immediate release, Thursday, September 28, 2017
Statement by Mary Dispenza of Seattle, Volunteer Member of the Board of Directors and Volunteer Seattle Leader for SNAP, the Survivors Network (425-941-6001 or 425-644-2468, [email protected])
One of two lawsuits filed against the Seattle Archdiocese has settled for $1.3 million. The other suit is ongoing. Both alleged that the Archdiocese helped a teacher secure a public school position while knowing that he had sexually abused students at Archdiocesan schools. The teacher, Edward Courtney, was on a list the Archdiocese released last year of brothers, priests, deacons and nuns who abused children in its territory.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article174945801.html
http://www.seattlearchdiocese.org/Assets/SEP/7043_DisclosureList.pdf
(Page 9)
According to The News Tribune, the Seattle Archdiocese knew Mr. Courtney had abused children at St. Alphonsus Parish School and at O’Dea High School, but administrators did not report him to the state, as required by law. Instead, they wrote letters of recommendation for the teacher.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/crime/article174945801.html
SNAP, the Survivors Network, has no direct knowledge of the allegations in these lawsuits. However, as advocates for child sex abuse victims and survivors ourselves, we know that children's lives are saved when adults tak the simple action of reporting abuse.
We applaud the two victims who filed suits for pursuing these claims. Mandatory reporters are on the front lines of defending children, and when they fail to do their job, they should be held accountable to civil and criminal law.
(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 more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contacts – Mary Dispenza (425-941-6001 or 425-644-2468, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, [email protected]), Melanie Jula Sakoda (925-708-6175, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix (949-322-7434, [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