Canadian Clergy Abuse Survivors Demand Full Disclosure from Bishops
Cornwall, Ontario: Following a Papal Summit on clergy sexual abuse in Rome, a group of Canadian clergy abuse survivors will be in Cornwall, Ontario to lobby the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops while they gather for their Plenary Assembly on September 23-26. The survivors meet with a representative group of bishops on September 22 and have events planned throughout the week.
“Bishops in the United States have started the process of releasing names of credibly accused priests,” stated Leona Huggins, a clergy abuse survivor from British Columbia. “We want bishops in Canada to do the same.”
In 2018, the CCCB released a document entitled “Protecting Minors from Sexual Abuse: A Guide to the Catholic Faithful in Canada for Healing, Reconciliation, and Transformation.
“We want to ensure that these guidelines have been implemented in every single diocese across the country,” added Gemma Hickey, founder of Pathways, an organization that offers support to clergy abuse survivors from Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Last May, Pope Francis issued a decree entitled “Vos Estis Lux Mundi”, which establishes new procedural rules to combat sexual abuse following the papal summit on clergy abuse in Rome. Huggins and Hickey joined other clergy abuse survivors from all over the world in Rome while the summit was taking place. The decree makes Bishops and Religious Superiors directly responsible for their actions and omissions, including efforts taken to conceal sexual abuse. It calls upon Bishops to investigate and report abuse.
The group is demanding #ActionNow.
****
For More Information:
Leona Huggins
604.240.3741
Gemma Hickey
709.690.5244
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