Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

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EXCLUSIVE: Survivor of notorious rapist priest speaks out for first time

April 18, 2025

WWL Louisiana/The Guardian April 17, 2025 By David Hammer/Ramon Antonio Vargas The clergy abuse survivor who helped prosecutors secure the only conviction against a notorious child rapist and retired Catholic priest in New Orleans is still hoping that authorities file criminal charges against his former high school principal and everyone else who enabled the clergyman. “Everybody that had any part … needs to be held accountable. Period – period,” Neil Duhon, who was raped 50 years ago by Lawrence Hecker, said in an interview with WWL Louisiana and the Guardian, the first and only time he’s ever revealed his identity to the public. Referring to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the institution that employed and protected Hecker for decades and kept doing so even after the priest admitted he had preyed sexually on minors throughout his career, Duhon added: “I hope they get some type of criminal charge. “You know, they are responsible for all of this.”

Records from San Francisco Archdiocese made public; SNAP appalled and calls for complete transparency

April 18, 2025

For immediate release: April 18, 2025 According to documents recently ordered released by a federal bankruptcy judge, the Independent Review Board (IRB) for the Archdiocese of San Francisco -- tasked with reviewing child sexual abuse accusations against priests -- returned more than half of the clergy to ministry, including a priest with five abuse complaints. To SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, this is absolute madness. The released IRB minutes can be found here. We know from studies that false accusations of child sexual abuse are extremely rare, and that those who prey on children seldom stop on their own. With the exception of incarceration, the most effective way to protect today’s children from those clergymen who would harm them, and to help victims and their families heal, is to publish the names, photographs, work histories, and current locations of the accused. It is important to keep in mind that these men are not just dangerous to Catholic children, but to all boys and girls who may come, or who may have come, across their paths. While the 2002 Dallas Charter promised that Catholic bishops would be open and transparent with this information, the Archdiocese of San Francisco has so far refused to publish a list of their accused. It is the only Catholic Diocese in California without a list. In fact, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone reportedly long denied that his Archdiocese even kept such information. But the recently released IRB minutes apparently put the lie to that claim. Even more disturbing are all the missing names from the IRB list. When the San Francisco Archdiocese petitioned for bankruptcy in 2023, it faced 537 lawsuits for child sexual abuse. As of 2022, just 49 priests were found on the IRB’s list, including two dozen priests that were “cleared” of abuse.

SNAP Files Formal Complaints Against Tobin and Six Other US Cardinals as Part of “Conclave Watch”

April 14, 2025

South Orange, NJ — On Tuesday, April 15 at 11:00am, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in front of Seton Hall University (outside Ward Place Gate at the intersection of Ward Pl. and Seton Dr.) to deliver a critical announcement concerning the role of the U.S. Catholic cardinals in the next papal conclave. The event will focus in particular on Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, his central role in the ongoing suppression of results of an abuse investigation commissioned by the university, and SNAP’s conclusion that no American cardinal is qualified to lead the Catholic Church due to their extensive histories of enabling and covering up clergy sexual abuse.

Accused Catholic priests in Alaska; SNAP worries about the safety of parishioners

April 09, 2025

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2025 SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has been alerted to the presence of two accused priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) at Immaculate Conception Church in the Diocese of Fairbanks. The clerics are Frs. Gerardys Hauwert and Daniel Mentesana. Countless times in the past, Catholic officials have "cleared' clerics and put them back into parishes, only later to have to remove them again when additional accusations are reported. We are concerned that this history could repeat itself in Alaska. Fr. Hauwert has been at Immaculate Conception since 2022. He was accused in a 2018 lawsuit of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman who went to him for help. The Diocese of San Jose agreed to a financial settlement with the woman. Fr. Mentesana had his canonical faculties in the Archdiocese of Baltimore revoked in 2021. The clergyman was accused of an inappropriate relationship with an adult female that occurred outside of the Archdiocese. Fr. Mentesana was a former chaplain at the National Shrine Grotto and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, both located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Parish Bulletins from March 23 and March 30 have the cleric giving Lenten presentations at Immaculate Conception. Back in June of 2021, Pope Francis changed Catholic Church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by clergy. The new provisions became effective on December 8th of that year, yet, as the situation in Fairbanks illustrates, clergy who are accused of sexual misconduct with adult men and women appear to continue to be free to minister in Catholic parishes.

MEDIA ADVISORY: SNAP Press event in Rome on Tuesday March 25

March 24, 2025

(Rome, Italy) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in Rome on Tuesday, March 25th at 11:00am to release a letter from clergy abuse survivors to Pope Francis. The letter conveys survivors’ urgent appeals to the pope in light of his declining health and the looming transition in church leadership. At the same time, SNAP will announce the first results of its new Conclave Watch initiative—a global vetting process examining the records of potential papal candidates on clergy sexual abuse and their commitment to zero tolerance. As part of the Conclave Watch initiative, survivors will present several complaints made under the pope’s Vos estis lux mundi decree against prominent cardinals in positions of oversight and leadership of the church’s management of clergy sexual abuse.

Clergy abuse survivors to hold press conference Tuesday to deliver survivors’ message to pope and announce vetting of future papal candidates

March 21, 2025

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in Rome on Tuesday, March 25th at 11:00am to release a letter from clergy abuse survivors to be delivered this weekend to Pope Francis. The letter conveys survivors’ urgent appeals to the pope in light of his declining health and the looming transition in church leadership.

Victims blast Peoria bishop on abuse

March 17, 2025

Victims blast Peoria bishop on abuse In new video, man who sued speaks up for first time His predator priest still lives in IL but diocese won’t say where Advocate challenges Tylka to “help put abusive cleric behind bars” SNAP: “Offering prayers won’t cut it. Bishop must act to safeguard kids” Roughly 50 Peoria area priests are now publicly accused child molesters WHAT Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will try to hand deliver a letter to Peoria’s Catholic bishop --blasting him for ‘reckless inaction’ in response to a lawsuit last week against a still-living but defrocked predator priest, --urging him to protect kids by ‘personally visiting each place the abuser worked and beg victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call the police,’ and --challenging local church employees - ‘no matter what the bishop does or doesn’t do’ - to ‘aggressively warn parents and the public about this predator.’ Also, in an impassioned new video, the victim who sued the cleric last week will discuss his shame, suicidal feelings, hopefulness and explain why he’s coming forward and taking action now. WHENMonday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m. WHEREOn the sidewalk outside the Peoria Catholic Diocese headquarters (a.k.a chancery office or Spalding Center), 492 NE. Madison Ave. in Peoria WHO Two-four clergy sex abuse victims including a Missouri man (also abused as a child by a priest) who is the former national director of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)

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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