Abbot resigns while the Abbey faces problems
(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 3, 2022)
Westminster Abbey in Mission, British Columbia has announced the resignation, effective May 3, 2022, of Abbot John Braganza, OSB after working in this role for 16 years. According to the B.C. Catholic news, the decision was made after months of personal and community discernment.
We can’t help but think that the current civil lawsuit, naming the Abbey as a defendant, may have played a role in the abrupt resignation of Braganza. Mark O'Neill, a man who claims he was sexually assaulted as a high school seminarian plans to appear in B.C. Supreme Court Thursday to seek records from the Vatican's representative in Canada about the monk who he claims abused him. The application follows the emergence in O'Neill's case of an anonymous letter allegedly sent decades ago to the former head of the abbey that runs the seminary, warning about the now-deceased Benedictine monk at the heart of the lawsuit. O'Neill is suing the seminary, which is owned by the Benedictines and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver.
It is interesting to note that the statement released by the Abbey, mentions concerns regarding "his (Braganza) interpersonal relations” and yet highlights that “there are no allegations of sexual misconduct or of any misconduct with minors.” We urge the Abbey or any church official to define “concerns surrounding interpersonal relations.” If there was some impropriety involving Abbot Braganza, that information needs to be immediately disclosed.
In any case, we sound a second alarm for “change and renewal” and encourage church officials to ensure the Abbot and any others with knowledge of abuse or history at the Abbey not be shielded from depositions during the lawsuit and should be made to answer questions regardless of their current employment status.
CONTACT: Leona Huggins, SNAP Leader Vancouver – British Columbia, (604-240-3741, [email protected]) Michael McDonnell, SNAP Communication Manager ([email protected]), 267-261-0578), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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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