Blame for “Dire Consequences” Lies at the Feet of Catholic Officials in PA
Church attorneys are warning of “dire” financial consequences for dioceses in Pennsylvania if the state supreme court upholds an earlier ruling that allowed survivors of clergy sexual abuse to file lawsuits. Responsibility for those “dire consequences” should be laid at the feet of Catholic officials who covered-up abuse for years, not the survivors who are seeking their day in court.
The rhetoric from Church attorneys is deceptive and inappropriate. Not only would this ruling enable more survivors to bring forward information that can help protect children and expose wrongdoers, but it will also serve as a deterrent against future cover-ups. Allowing survivors of sexual abuse their chance for justice can only result in more informed communities and more protections for children.
Once again, Catholic officials look to blame others for the mess in which they currently find themselves. It is only because of decades of cover-up, minimization, and intimidation that these cases were not heard earlier. Any “dire consequences” are exclusively the fault of Pennsylvania bishops and their refusal to handle allegations of sexual abuse properly. Financial consequences for corrupt institutions should not prevent justice from being done. We hope that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will allow these cases to proceed.
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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