Bankruptcy Judge Closes Loophole Used by Archdiocese of Santa Fe, SNAP Applauds Decision
A bankruptcy judge in New Mexico has ruled that Catholic officials can be subject to lawsuits claiming the Archdiocese of Santa Fe fraudulently transferred away assets in an attempt to avoid paying money to survivors of clergy sexual abuse. We are grateful for this ruling and hope that other judges around the country who are handling Catholic bankruptcies will allow similar actions.
We are grateful to Judge David Thuma for recognizing that transfers from the Archdiocese may very well have been attempts to shield assets and lie about the true nature of its financial position in order to deny victims recompense for the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of priests, nuns, brothers, and other church staffers. It is no secret that Catholic officials have used similar tactics in the past and we applaud Judge Thuma for taking action. Given that nine dioceses and archdioceses have declared bankruptcy since the start of 2019, we hope that the judges overseeing each one of those cases will take a closer look at how Catholic officials have transferred assets. We believe if they do, they will also allow this question to be explored through the courts.
We hope this news will encourage others who were hurt in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe to come forward, make a report, and find help and healing.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP 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
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