Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese in Pennsylvania is named the Vatican's highest court; SNAP reacts.
We are angered to learn Pope Francis appointed the Pennsylvania Bishop Mark Bartchak to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's highest court. Making matters worse is the fact that when the appointment was announced, the media failed to mention Bartchak's role described in the scathing 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report and we feel that Bishop Bartchak's role in the cover-up of abuse should disqualify him from this position of honor.
According to the Tribune-Democrat, a newspaper serving the Johnstown, Pennsylvania area, Bartchak, a Monsignor in 2005, led an investigation involving a male victim who had disclosed his abuse to the diocese initially in 1982. The grand jury report stated that Bartchak consulted with Erie Bishop Donald Trautman to explain 'that there are likely to be other victims,' Bartchak said. To us, the most disturbing part of Bartchak's memo to Trautman is the posing of a question, 'but to what end is it necessary to follow every lead?' To anyone who cares about children and doing the right thing, the answer to that question is obvious.
It is clear to us Bishop Bartchak, a canon lawyer who worked his way up through the ranks in the Erie diocese and eventually Bishop of Altoona, was part of the cover-up and could have made a difference for many other victims. Not once did Bartchak suggest that secular authorities should be contacted and instead Bartchak followed the orders of Bishop Trautman. We know the systemic problem of abuse was in the cover-up. We didn't know that it would still be rewarded with appointments to higher offices within the Catholic church.
CONTACT: Michael McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager ([email protected], 267.261.0578), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517.974.9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board Member and Altoona Johnstown Leader, 814-341-8386, [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
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