Coptic Church Walks Back Its #MeToo Moment; SNAP Stands with Survivor
For immediate release: December 7, 2021
Less than two years ago the Coptic Orthodox Church experienced its #MeToo moment after a young activist survivor exposed a child-abusing cleric on social media. The priest was removed subsequently from ministry, and the Church reportedly “vowed to eradicate inappropriate behavior.”
Yet when that same survivor, Sally Zakhari, was recently invited to speak at a Coptic parish in Toronto, Pope Tawadros II inexplicably shut down her presentation, SNAP proudly stands with Sally and we have a message for Pope Tawadros: You cannot “eradicate” clergy sexual abuse if you are afraid to even allow people to talk about it.
We hope that the Pope’s ban will backfire and that “The Road to Discipleship: Rediscovering Christ through Trauma” will ultimately be heard. The intrepid Sally reports that the action is sparking a backlash from the Coptic community and that the search for a new venue for the talk is in progress.
SNAP knows from experience that the voices of survivors can and will lead the way to true change in recalcitrant churches. We think that day of reckoning is coming to the Coptic Church. #letherspeak #copticsurvivor #copticsurvivormovement
CONTACT: Melanie Sakoda, SNAP Survivor Support Coordinator/SNAP Orthodox Leader ([email protected], 925-708-6175), Michael McDonnell, SNAP Communications Director ([email protected], 267-261-0578), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
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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