Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

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Cardinal Accused of Hiding Priest Sex Abuse Will Help Close Pope Francis’ Casket

April 26, 2025

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, who was accused of covering up cases of abuse as archbishop of Los Angeles, will have an official role in the ceremonies around Francis’ funeral. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles, covered up cases of sexual abuse by priests.Credit...Max Rossi/Reuters New York Times April 25, 2025 By Jonathan Wolfe Follow our live coverage for the funeral of Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica. An American cardinal who was accused of covering up cases of sexual abuse by priests and was later stripped of some duties, is set to play an official role in the ceremonies surrounding Pope Francis’ funeral. Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles, will participate in the closing of the pope’s casket at St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday evening and in his burial at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on Saturday, according to Vatican announcements. The cardinals taking part were chosen based on seniority, a spokesman for the Vatican, Matteo Bruni, said at a news briefing on Thursday. Cardinal Mahony, 89, was the archbishop of Los Angeles from 1985 until his retirement from the Roman Catholic Church in 2011. In 2013, internal church personnel files released as part of a civil case revealed that Cardinal Mahony had played a role in covering up cases of sexual abuse by priests.

POPE FRANCIS DIES: Survivors mourn the tragedy of Francis’ papacy

April 21, 2025

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis, Survivors around the world are mourning what they perceive as the "tragedy" of his papacy—a preventable catastrophe for the children and vulnerable people who were abused during his tenure. Last month, survivors delivered a final appeal to Pope Francis, warning him against issuing what they describe as a “misleading” papal exhortation on children that fails to mandate binding protections against their abuse under canon law. The letter, drafted by global survivors to be personally delivered by Juan Carlos Cruz — a survivor, papal advisor, and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors — urged Pope Francis to use his remaining time to implement a true zero-tolerance law that includes independent oversight of bishops.

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.

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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