Archbishop convicted of covering up sex abuse of children avoids jail, victims respond
For immediate release, July 3, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, Volunteer President of SNAP, the Survivors Network, [email protected], 415-312-5820
Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson, who was convicted in May of concealing child sexual abuse, has been spared prison time. The archbishop of Adelaide was sentenced yesterday to six months of house arrest followed by six months of probation due to his ailing health and age.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/02/australia/australia-archbishop-sentencing-intl/index.html
As survivors, we are grateful that Archbishop Wilson was convicted. As the highest ranking Catholic official to be convicted of covering up for the crimes of predatory clergy, this landmark case should have an impact on how the Church behaves in the future.
However, given the horrific damage suffered by the children Archbishop Wilson decided not to protect, the sentence seems woefully inadequate and disappointing. Moreover, we are afraid that when the courts impose a lenient sentence for such a grievous betrayal of trust, the deterrent effect on other Catholic officials is drastically reduced.
Children who are sexually abused are given a life sentence, and Archbishop Wilson unthinkingly handed down that sentence to who knows how many children when he did not report the crimes of Father James Fletcher. We can only hope, along with other victims and advocates, that the archbishop will be found unsuitable for home detention and end up behind bars.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world's oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 supporters. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]), Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, [email protected]), Melanie Sakoda (925-708-6175 [email protected])
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