Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

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Toulouse archbishop faces outrage for appointing abuser to diocesan post

July 15, 2025

Archbishop Guy de Kerimel said he had “chosen the path of mercy”. Abaca Press / Alamy The Tablet July 14, 2025 By Bess Twiston Davies ‘People like this should absolutely not be in any position of responsibility,’ said Fr Dominique Spina’s victim. ‘In any other role, if you commit acts like this, you do not come back.’ The Archbishop of Toulouse appointed a priest who served a prison sentence for raping a minor as diocesan chancellor and episcopal delegate for marriage. Archbishop Guy de Kerimel said that by appointing Fr Dominique Spina to the post he had “chosen the path of mercy”. In 2006, Spina was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student while serving as his spiritual director in the 1990s at Notre-Dame de Bétharram school at Lestelle-Bétharram, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of south-west France. In a statement last week to Agence France-Presse, Archbishop de Kerimel said: “It is true that Fr Spina served a five-year prison sentence, including one year suspended, for very serious acts that took place nearly 30 years ago”.

Recently ordained Nashville Catholic priest sentenced to 7 years in prison; survivors' group says conviction shows sexual abuse in the Church remains a serious problem

July 16, 2025

For immediate release: July 16, 2025 Fr. Juan Carlos Garcia, a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Nashville, pleaded guilty Monday to multiple sex crimes. The charges involved both children and adults. In response, SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, observed that cases like this show that the sexual abuse scandal in the Church is not just a thing of the past. We commend the young victim who reported to Catholic officials in 2023 that Fr. Garcia had engaged in “improper touching.” It is because of their courage that this cleric has been convicted and appears to be on track to be removed completely from ministry.

French Archbishop appoints convicted child abuser as chancellor; SNAP urges the Pope to prove to survivors that he “gets it”

July 11, 2025

French Archbishop Guy de Kerimel of Toulouse defended his appointment of a Catholic priest convicted of sexually abusing a child as diocesan chancellor, saying that he had “chosen the path of mercy.” SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, calls on the new pope, Leo XIV, to act against this gross betrayal of survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The June 2 appointment of Father Dominique Spina gained widespread attention in France after the French daily, La Dépêche du Midi, exposed the priest’s 1993 conviction for sexually abusing a 16-year-old high school student. Fr. Spina received a five-year prison sentence for his crime. The priest claimed that what he did to the teen was “consensual.” Archbishop de Kerimel also offered that “It is true that Father Spina served a five-year prison sentence… for very serious acts that took place nearly 30 years ago.” But then he continued, “Considering that we have nothing to reproach this priest for in the last 30 years I have therefore chosen to appoint him to this administrative position.” However, the archbishop was careful to add that Father Spina “no longer exercises a pastoral role.” While the role of a chancellor is an administrative duty tasked with the day-to-day functioning of a diocese, the archbishop’s appointment of Father Spina raises questions in the minds of survivors about the Catholic Church’s commitment to remove perpetrators from ministry. The victims received life-long injuries, and they will never trust an accused priest, no matter how long he has supposedly gone without complaints.

Accused Greek Orthodox Metropolitan dies; SNAP stands with the victim

July 07, 2025

For immediate release: July 7, 2025 Metropolitan Athenagoras Aneste, former Greek Metropolitan of Mexico and Vize, died on July 1, 2025. His funeral service will be held at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, Illinois, on July 9th. As best as SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, can tell, the metropolitan will be buried with all the honors accorded a clergyman in good standing. Our hearts break for John Metsopoulos, who told us in 2022 that he was sexually harassed by the Metropolitan in 2019 in Mexico. John also reported ongoing physical and psychological abuse from 2017 to 2019. In addition to the harm he suffered personally, John said that he had direct knowledge of fraud by the metropolitan. SNAP had received similar accusations against Metropolitan Aneste years earlier from a now deceased Orthodox priest who worked in Haiti, Fr. Michael Graves. Studies show that false claims of abuse are extremely rare. We also know that adults abused by clergy can suffer significant harm. Moreover, John is a former Connecticut state representative (132nd district, 1984-94), as well as a former first selectman (mayor) of Fairfield, Connecticut (1999-2003). He comes from a devout family long involved with the Greek Orthodox Church. It looked like John’s accusations against Metropolitan Aneste, while never directly acknowledged or addressed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, had borne fruit early last year, when a new metropolitan was elected for Mexico. Metropolitan Athenagoras became the head of the Metropolis of Vize, Turkey. These changes were made under the leadership of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (Dimitrios Archontonis). According to Pew Research, the Orthodox population of Mexico is 110,000. There are almost no Greek Orthodox faithful in Turkey. Politico noted in 2020 that even the larger city of Istanbul numbered no more than 600 families. So, this appeared to be a significant demotion. It seems to us that being moved to a much smaller metropolis in the wake of accusations is very similar to the practice of shuffling accused priests from place to place that has been employed by the Catholic Church.

SNAP to present new whistleblower documents concerning Pope Leo’s role in abuse cover-up at May 20th press conference in Chicago

May 19, 2025

Mounting evidence points to pattern of failure to properly investigate abuse claims across Leo’s ecclesiastical career CHICAGO, IL – The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM at 1 E. Wacker Dr. (the Izard Room) in Downtown Chicago, to present new evidence concerning Pope Leo XIV and his alleged involvement in the cover-up of clergy sexual abuse cases during his previous roles in the Catholic Church.

MEDIA ADVISORY: SNAP Press Event Tomorrow (5/7) in Rome

May 06, 2025

Next pope likely to have covered up sex crimes: New whistleblower docs show liberal and conservative candidates involved in abuse cover-ups Global survivors will unveil a 100-day roadmap for the next pope to solve the clergy abuse crisis on Thursday ROME, ITALY — As the College of Cardinals gathers to elect a new pope, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), ConclaveWatch.org, and survivor leaders from across the globe are sounding the alarm: the next pope is almost certain to have covered up clergy abuse. He will also appoint others with similar records to key Vatican positions.

Abuse survivors to reveal new evidence on papal candidates at Rome press conference ahead of conclave

April 29, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 29, 2025 The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in Rome on Wednesday, April 30 at 11:00am to announce new information gathered as part of SNAP’s new Conclave Watch initiative including updates to previously filed Vos Estis Lux Mundi reports as well information gathered on other potential papal candidates and cardinal electors. “Since we started the Conclave Watch initiative, survivors around the world have reached out to us with information about Catholic cardinals. We’ve heard from victims and advocates from Fiji, Tonga, Belgium, France, South Africa, Malawi, France, Italy, Canada, and all over the United States. Abuse survivors do not want to see another conclave that elects a pope who has shielded and covered up for clergy offenders,” said Sarah Pearson, a SNAP spokesperson.

Take Action and Stop Child Sexual Abuse

If you see child sexual abuse, or have a reasonable suspicion of sexual abuse or your child has been sexually abused, call 911 or your local police immediately.

If you suspect abuse, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or visit the Child Help Hotline. Trained crisis operators staff the lines 24/7 to answer your questions. If necessary, they will show you how to report in your local area.

Child pornography is a federal crime. If you see or suspect images that may be child pornography, report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTip Line.

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