Canadian Man Files Suit Alleging Abuse at Hands of Catholic Bishop, SNAP Responds
A man from the Yukon has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was abused as a teenager by a Catholic bishop from the Diocese of Whitehorse. We applaud this brave survivor for coming forward and hope that his story will encourage others who may be suffering in silence to speak out, make a report to police, and start healing.
According to the suit, the man was abused by Bishop Hubert O’Connor in the late 1980’s while his family attended Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Teslin. The lawsuit argues that Catholic officials in Whitehorse should have known about the dangers posed by Bishop O’Connor because there had been prior complaints of sexual misconduct against him.
This is a disturbing story that not only demonstrates the worldwide diaspora of clergy abuse, but also the sad truth that some perpetrators were able to climb the institutional ladder and reach positions of incredible power and influence. Diocesan officials themselves have acknowledged that there are “previous claims” against Bishop O’Connor, which makes his ascension to the hierarchy even more baffling.
Fortunately, thanks to Canada’s legal system, there are no limitations on when survivors of child sexual abuse can file a claim, giving this victim an opportunity for his day in court. We hope that American legislators will look to the example of Canada and continue to introduce and pass legislation to reform the statute of limitations in this country.
Finally, we call on Catholic officials in Whitehorse to reveal information about the earlier claims against Bishop O’Connor, as well as any priests that worked under him who may have been accused. When there is rot at the top, it is likely that it also goes all the way down.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(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