Catholic priest who was supposed to protect children charged with abuse; SNAP reacts
The former director of the Diocese of Arlington's Office of Child Protection and Safety has been indicted on charges of sexually assaulting a child. We are grateful to know that the Office of the Attorney General is still working on getting these criminals prosecuted and exposed.
Fr. Terry Specht is the third cleric charged as a result of the AG investigation. The priest worked as the director of the Diocese's Office of Child protection between 2004 and 2011. He is accused of aggravated sexual battery of a child under the age of 13 and the sexual abuse of a child with whom a custodial or supervisory relationship existed. The abuse is said to have taken place between March and September in 2000.
Virginia SNAP Leader Becky Ianni said that Fr. Specht sat on the review board that heard her case, and that it is unsettling for her to realize that an accused perpetrator listened to the details of her abuse. Becky added, "Frankly, it gives me the creeps."
Although Catholic bishops continue to contend that clergy sexual abuse is a thing of the past, it clearly is not. We hope that anyone who suffered, witnessed, or suspected abuse in the Diocese of Arlington will make a report to the AG's hotline at 833-454-9064.
CONTACT: Becky Ianni, SNAP Virginia Leader (703-801-6044, [email protected]), Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Coordinator (925-708-6175, Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications Manager, (267-261-0578, [email protected]), 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 more than 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
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