“Insufficient evidence of abuse”
I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard a victim tell me that this is what her local Catholic officials have said about her report of child sexual assault.
(The latest such case involves Fr. Michael Keating of the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese. In 2006, a young victim disclosed to church officials that Fr. Keating molested her. Archdiocesan staff kept quiet, however, and deemed he report “unsubstantiated.” So they kept the predator on the job for nine more years. He’s stepped aside, now that he’s being sued.)
What a “Catch 22.” Catholic officials keep abuse reports silent. Then, they claim they can’t “substantiate” them. Then, he predator stays in ministry, usually for years, until a second, third, or fourth victim steps forward – often filing criminal charges or civil litigation. And suffering that could and should have been prevented has happened to more innocent boys or girls.
Here in St. Louis, we have a priest who has been accused of molesting three boys, none of whom know one another, over decades. Archdiocesan officials have found all three “unsubstantiated.”
And the priest, Fr. Alex Anderson, is still on the job now, more than a decade after the victims spoke up. (Full disclosure: the archdiocese did pay one of them $23,000 but they refuse to call it a settlement.)
If Catholic officials honored their own abuse policies and lived up to their own promises, they would disclose child sex abuse allegations. Others who could confirm those allegations would likely step forward. Then the accused might be “substantiated” and other kids might be spared horrific pain.
But don’t hold your breath.
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
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