Diocese of Richmond Investigating Allegations against Four Former Priests
The Diocese of Richmond has announced investigations into four former priests following allegations of child sexual abuse. We call on Catholic officials in Richmond to do outreach at every parish where these men worked so that other victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers will be encouraged to come forward.
According to a release from diocesan leaders in Richmond, the four former priests are:
- Fr. William Dinga
- Fr. Joseph Slowik
- Fr. Thomas L. Long, Jr.
- Fr. Eugene Daigle
Based on available information, these all appear to be new allegations against never-before-named priests. Because we know that abuse rarely happens once, we believe that there are likely other victims of these men who believe they are alone and have yet to come forward. It is on Catholic officials from Richmond to change that.
We call on Bishop Barry Knestout to personally visit each parish where these men were employed, publicly announce the allegations, and urge anyone with information to contact local law enforcement. He should also include announcements in parish bulletins and diocesan websites, ensuring the information is shared widely.
Because all of these men are still alive, it means they could still pose a potential threat to children and the vulnerable, so it is urgent that Bishop Knestout take these steps to inform affected parishes immediately.
CONTACT: Becky Ianni, SNAP Virginia Leader and Board Member ([email protected], 703-801-6044), Dottie Klammer, SNAP Richmond ([email protected], 804-347-9974), 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