SNAP Responds to Allegations of Clergy Abuse Reported in the Diocese of Charlotte
When adults who suffered, saw or suspected sexual abuse call law enforcement, children are safer. We commend Doug Dickerson for having the strength, wisdom and compassion to protect others by reporting the priests – Fr. Damion Lynch and Fr. Cornell Bradley – that he says abused him as a child.
However, we cannot help but wonder if at least one of these two priests might already be behind bars if church officials in Charlotte had turned the allegations against them over to law enforcement in the 1990s. Catholic officials in Charlotte have confirmed that they knew of allegations against Fr. Lynch at that time. We call on them today to detail what steps were taken against Fr. Lynch when those allegations were first brought forward.
Last month in Rome, more than 100 of the world’s highest-ranking Catholic officials bent over backwards to talk a great game about protecting children, healing victims and cooperating with law enforcement. Now, Bishop Peter Jugis has a chance to prove that those were not just empty words.
Bishop Jugis can start by personally visiting each church or school where these two priests worked, begging anyone with suspicions or information to call police immediately. He can also do what half of all US bishops have done: post a list of all accused child molesting clerics in his diocese.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(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