WA--Victims urge Seattle archbishop to act in new sex case
For immediate release: Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Statement by Mary Dispenza of Seattle, Seattle SNAP director (425 941 6001, [email protected]
A counselor at a Catholic agency has been arrested for allegedly abusing a teenager in the Seattle archdiocese.
http://komonews.com/news/local/sheriff-drug-counselor-suspected-of-sexual-relationship-with-teen-boy
Until recently Jamie Wright of Marysville worked for the Catholic Community Services Northwest Recovery Center in Burlington. This week, police caught her in a car with a boy. Though one news account said the two have been “in a relationship for months” we stress that this is alleged child sexual abuse.
It’s always wrong and hurtful when an adult has any sexual contact with a youngster, regardless of the ages or genders involved. It’s especially wrong and hurtful when the adult is in a position of authority over that youngster, like a counselor is.
We hope anyone that anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered any crimes by Wright or cover ups by her colleagues or supervisors will call police. We hope Seattle Archbishop Peter Sartain uses his diocesan websites, parish bulletins and pulpit announcements to warn other about Wright and beg other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call law enforcement.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected])
Sheriff: Drug counselor suspected of sexual relationship with teen boy
BY KOMO STAFF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH 2016
COUPEVILLE, Wash. - A 33-year-old substance abuse counselor was arrested after she was caught allegedly making out with a 16-year-old boy in a parked car near the Deception Pass Bridge, authorities said.
An investigation later found evidence that the two had been involved in a sexual relationship for months, said Detective Ed Wallace of the Island County Sheriff's Office.
Wallace said the incident unfolded Feb. 21 when . . .
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