Catholic Priest in Michigan Faces More Criminal Charges Thanks to Attorney General Investigation
More charges against an allegedly abusive Catholic priest have been brought forward thanks to the work done by Michigan’s attorney general. The progress being made in Michigan should be a signal to other attorneys general around the country that children can be protected in their own states by launching a secular investigation into clergy abuse immediately.
The news that more charges are being brought against former priest Gary Jacobs, and that more victims have come forward, reinforces the obvious wisdom of having investigations conducted by trusted secular authorities. This is especially true since a recent AP report found that 40% of all priests listed by bishops as being “credibly accused” are alive, and generally not monitored. It is clear that A.G. Nessel is making Michigan safer each time her office uncovers a crime and ties it to its perpetrator. We are grateful for the continued diligence of the Michigan Attorney General. As more offenses are discovered and exposed, the system of hiding that crime is also uncovered and can be addressed.
It is important to remember that only offenses committed by living priests or ex-priests can be prosecuted by A.G. Nessel. However, without a doubt, other crimes have been committed by clerics who are now deceased. We hope the continued progress made by A.G. Nessel will inspire other survivors and whistleblowers to contact her hotline (1-844-324-3374) and share what they know about clergy sex crimes.
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