Diocese of Columbus Settles Lawsuit, SNAP Calls for Outreach
The Catholic Diocese of Columbus has settled a lawsuit with a victim of clergy sexual abuse and we now call on church officials to update their list of accused priests. The Diocese should also share the news widely and encourage others who may have been hurt to come forward and make a report to law enforcement.
A lawsuit against the Diocese was reportedly settled for $1 million dollars. The suit accused Msgr. Thomas Bennett, a former teacher at Saint Charles Preparatory School, of sexually abusing a student. We believe the amount of this settlement should be enough to ensure that Msgr. Bennett is named on Columbus’ list of “credibly accused” priests. We call on Diocesan officials to make this update immediately. Otherwise, Catholic leaders are sending mixed messages to the community by settling a lawsuit for such a substantial sum but refusing to list Msgr. Bennet as an abuser. We fear that this will not only cause confusion among the faithful, but could also discourage other survivors from coming forward if they suspect that they will not be believed.
We also call on Bishop Robert Brennan to ensure the information about Msgr. Bennett is shared widely among the Diocesan community, and especially at each location where the monsignor worked. He should also put out a letter to alumni from Saint Charles, informing them of the settlement and encouraging anyone else who may have been hurt by Msgr. Bennett or any other school official to make a report to law enforcement immediately. Though the monsignor is now deceased, it is important for reports to be made so that the full depth of abuse can be uncovered, and so that those who may have enabled or participated in abuse can be held accountable.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP 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