CA – East Bay priest investigated for sexual misconduct, victims’ group responds
For immediate release Wednesday, November 29
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, volunteer East Bay Leader for SNAP ([email protected], 925-708-6175)
According to the Diocese of Oakland, Father Van Dinh from the parish of St. Michael in Livermore has been placed on administrative leave while the police investigate allegations of sexual misconduct. Authorities say that the Diocese called them on November 21st about an incident involving an unidentified 25-year-old man which had taken place a few days earlier at the church.
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/11/28/livermore-pastor-on-leave-after-misconduct-allegation/
SNAP, the Survivors Network, commends the young man for promptly reporting to the Diocese of Oakland, and the Diocese for promptly reporting to the police. We hope that anyone who has any information that bears on the incident will contact the Livermore Police Department at 925-371-4900immediately.
While we have no information about the allegations in this case, we have worked with adults who have been sexually assaulted or abused by a trusted pastor as an adult. The consequences to the survivor can be absolutely devastating, even deadly. We urge anyone who has been the victim of such an assault to report to the civil authorities, and to reach out to groups like ours for help and support.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
CONTACT
Melanie Sakoda 925-708-6175 [email protected], Joelle Casteix 949-322-7434, [email protected], or Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (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