Another Sexual Assault Case Filed Against Priest in Venice, Florida
For the second time this month a lawsuit has been filed against a priest from Venice, FL, this one alleging sexual assault in 2017. We applaud this woman for coming forward and hope that this news encourages other potential victims or witnesses to come forward.
At the beginning of October, a suit was filed against Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin from the Diocese of Venice. In that complaint Fr. McLoughlin was accused of sexually violating a woman in April 2018. The lawsuit filed today contains similar allegations against Fr. McLoughlin, but from 2017. Given this pattern of behavior, we suspect there are likely others who were hurt by this priest.
We commend this courageous victim for coming forward. We call on Catholic officials in the Diocese of Venice, including Bishop Frank Joseph Dewane, to publicize these allegations, taking steps to inform every community where Fr. McLoughlin worked and urging any victims or witnesses to come forward and make a report to police. Finally, we hope that others who experienced sexual abuse – whether by Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin or others – will call independent sources of help like therapists, law enforcement and support groups like ours.
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