Australia- Victims demand Pell's return for questioning
For immediate release: Wednesday, Feb. 26
Statement by Barbara Dorris, SNAP Outreach Director, 314-503-0003 [email protected]
Pope Francis has the right to promote any prelate he likes and to insist that he "start work as soon as possible" in Rome.
But citizens and Catholics have rights too. They have a right, through their governmental representatives, to question an alleged wrongdoer.
So we call on Pope Francis to reassure Australians today that Cardinal George Pell will be compelled to return to take questions by any panel that is investigating the church's on-going complicity in abuse cases in Australia. That is the least Pope Francis can do, given the great harm that has been done, the suffering that remains and the questions that still need answers.
We are very pained by the Pope's promotion of Pell. (It's clear that Pell ignored, minimized and concealed clergy child sex crimes.) But we will be even more pained if the Pope's callous move also enables an enabler - a cleric who protected predators instead of children - to evade legitimate and long-overdue questions about his extensive role in clergy sex crimes and cover ups.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 15,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by those in positions of authority including priests, nuns, rabbis, bishops, Protestant ministers, Scout leaders, teachers and coaches. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact – Nicky Davis, SNAP Australia Leader (04 4901 8594 [email protected]) David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [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