15 Survivors Reach Settlement with Diocese of Crookston
The Diocese of Crookston today has settled with fifteen survivors of clergy abuse. We hope that this settlement will bring comfort, healing, and change.
We applaud these brave survivors for speaking up, persevering, and for insisting on pledges of reform by church officials and disclosure of long-hidden abuse records, not just financial considerations in this settlement. Litigation can help survivors get the power to change church practices as well as achieve justice, and we are glad these survivors took the chance to demand both.
It is good that a bankruptcy was avoided because that process almost inevitably helps church officials keep hidden documents hidden and ensures cover ups remain covered up.
We hope that the information that the Diocese of Crookston has agreed to release will be made public soon. Information about those who committed and concealed these crimes will create a safer, more informed community and will help parents, police, prosecutors, and parishioners better protect children and vulnerable adults.
Finally, we hope this news will encourage others who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups to come forward and get help. Abuse is not a burden any of us can or should try to carry alone, and we hope anyone suffering in shame, silence and self-blame will find the strength to call trusted, independent sources of help like police, prosecutors, therapists 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