Case Filed Against Priest in Venice, Florida
A new sexual abuse and cover up case - stemming from an alleged assault just last year - has been filed against a Florida priest whose brother is also a child molesting cleric. We hope that this brave woman’s decision to come forward will encourage others who may have seen, suspected or suffered crimes in the Diocese of Venice to make a report of their own.
Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin is being sued for reportedly sexually violating a woman in April 2018. Seven months later, in November of 2018, he was put on leave. Notably, his brother, Fr. Edward McLoughlin, was defrocked in 2000 for child sexual abuse and is believed to be in Ireland now.
The victim also says she was twice denied a chance to meet with the reported assailant’s supervisor, Venice Bishop Frank Dewane. It is disappointing and disturbing that church officials continue to make public apologies for abuse but choose to ignore still-suffering victims in private.
We applaud this courageous woman as her actions may well spare others substantial harm. We hope that others who experienced sexual abuse – whether by Fr. Nicholas McLoughlin or others – will call independent sources of help like therapists, law enforcement and support groups like ours.
CONTACT: 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