Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown diocese is making a small step forward
For immediate release Monday, March 6, 2017
Statement by Judy Jones, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 974 5003,[email protected])
We are grateful that Bishop Mark Bartchak of the Altoona-Johnstown diocese is making changes. We agree with him the “one case of abuse is too many.” This is a small step forward but the grand jury report came out over a year ago and we are still only seeing words and promises we are not seeing any actions that make children safer today than they were a year ago.
http://wjactv.com/news/local/diocese-of-altoona-johnstown-details-sweeping-changes-for-child-sex-abuse
Last year SNAP recommended that Bishop Mark L. Bartchak fire Father John Byrnes, who was singled out in the grand jury report, as well as every member of the Allegation Review Board.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_victims_blast_altoona_catholic_officials
Byrnes took the Fifth when summoned before the grand jury and refused to answer its questions.
The group also pointed out that the grand jury report identified more than 50 priests and religious leaders who had sexually abused children in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/03/altoona_diocese_catholic_clerg_1.html
Last year the bishop pledged to post the names on the diocesan website.
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2016/03/04/Altoona-Johnstown-bishop-pledges-reforms-as-calls-pour-in/stories/201603040128
However, while a list has been posted, SNAP noted that it contained only 28 names, and no other information helpful to victims and to the public, such as photos, work histories, and current locations.
We ask that people judge the success of this plan by its actions and not by the words. Actions protect kids not words.
(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 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org )
Judy Jones ( 636-433-2511, [email protected]), John.Nesbella (814 243-5213,[email protected] ), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003, [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
Showing 1 comment
What is Bartchak going to do about the hundreds perhaps thousands of victims-the result of the last fifty years of clerical sexual abuse? I guess it’s just too bad for them. He and this diocese are washing their hands of these people. Even worse he and his fellow bishops and priests continue to oppose (albeit behind the scenes) their efforts to change the laws so that they can have their day in court.
Get a promise from Bartchak to stop opposing legislation to abolish the statute of limitations and I will call that real progress. It’s a matter of healing and justice, which require that the diocese take responsibility for the victims of the last fifty years and make reparations for the lives they have destroyed. It’s also a matter of justice that the guilty priests be held accountable for their crimes. As it stands now, there are dozens of priest sexual predators living in our communities who are undocumented and a great risk to children. I do not hear a word about either these survivors or these perpetrators who retired with full honors.
Only when the LAW is changed can we be assured that the sexual predator priests and their enablers will be held accountable and their victims justly compensated. Do not be deceived by smoke and mirrors-Bartchak is throwing the survivors under the bus.