Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

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Never Forget … or Forgive: The Ongoing Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Scandal

October 28, 2025

The sexual abuse scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein is especially outrageous inasmuch as he used his political connections (and money) to escape prosecution for so many years. But if it’s outrageous when money and power enable impunity for horrible crimes, shouldn’t it be even more outrageous when the pretense of moral authority enables someone to commit even worse crimes? I ask because an ongoing sexual abuse scandal with a more significant number of victims has been swept under the rug through the assumed holiness of its perpetrator.

U.S. Bishops elect Archbishop Paul Coakley, a known enabler of abusive priests, as president

November 11, 2025

This afternoon, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) selected Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley as their next president. “While it is not surprising that the USCCB has once again chosen a leader who has kept known abusers in ministry and misled Catholic families, survivors are furious that the U.S. bishops will take direction from a man with a history of minimizing criminal sexual assault and endangering the public," said SNAP Board President Shaun Dougherty.

Washington State leaders betray survivors by gutting clergy reporting law

October 10, 2025

SEATTLE – The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) condemns in the strongest possible terms the decision by Washington State officials to exempt clergy from the state’s mandatory reporting law, allowing religious officials to withhold knowledge of child rape and sexual assault when learned in the confessional. “This is a shameful day in Washington’s history,” said SNAP spokesperson Sarah Pearson. “Governor Ferguson and Attorney General Brown have bypassed the legislature to appease powerful church lobbyists. They have chosen to protect the institutional church instead of children, survivors, and the vulnerable.”

Pope Leo’s first major appointment is a reversal on progress toward zero tolerance

September 26, 2025

Today, the Vatican announced that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Filippo Iannone, prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts to head the Dicastery for Bishops. Peter Isely, SNAP’s Global Advocacy Chair said: “Iannone’s promotion sends a chilling message to abuse victims around the world, not only to expect advancement toward zero tolerance to be blocked, but a rollback on the hard-fought progress of clergy abuse survivors and advocates over the years. It was Iannone who shaped the church law on sexual abuse to guarantee that zero tolerance for abusers, and accountability for the bishops who covered it up, would never be included. Leo is putting the oversight and management of bishops in the hands of a man who has fought to enshrine the concealment of abusers in Vatican policy.”

BREAKING: New Evidence of Cover-Up by Pope Leo XIV: Peruvian Survivor Ana María Quispe Díaz to Speak Out Publicly in the U.S. for the First Time

July 30, 2025

Survivors will share documents showing that the Diocese of Chiclayo is now claiming it could take up to seven months to process the voluntary retirement of one priest whom Pope Leo XIV failed to investigate - despite multiple reports of abuse. The group will call attention to the harm caused by this delay and demand immediate accountability.

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.

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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