U.S. Bishops Receive Notice from Department of Justice to Preserve Records
Every US bishop who heads a diocese should by now have received a copy of a letter from a U.S. District Attorney instructing them to “‘not destroy, discard, dispose of, delete, or alter’ a host of records pertaining to personnel in general, and abuse – and its related claims – in particular."
A week ago, news surfaced of the US Department of Justice's new investigation into Catholic clergy sex abuse and cover-up. Signed by William McSwain, the Trump-appointed US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the letter has supposed to be sent to all 198 diocesan chancery offices by the head of the USCCB. The letter dated October 9 was revealed by Philadelphia-based blogger and church observer Rocco Palmo, considered to be very authoritative and accurate by many journalists and Catholics.
We applaud this move by the Department of Justice and hope it prevents the destruction of incriminating records that could lead to the prosecution of clerics who commit or conceal horrific child sex crimes. We can’t help but feel that this letter may have been the impetus for the sudden willingness of bishops nationwide to begin releasing records voluntarily.
We also hope it will inspire victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to call police and prosecutors. Further, we hope it will prod potential whistleblowers into having the courage to speak up now. Disclosing known or suspected child sex crimes or cover ups is the morally right thing to do and the best way to protect kids and deter future wrongdoing. Perhaps those considering this move can draw inspiration from Siobhan O’Connor, the brave whistleblower from the Diocese of Buffalo.
CONTACT: Tim Lennon, SNAP President ([email protected], 415-312-5820) Zach Hiner, 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