Fr. Hugh Lang Sentence Overturned, SNAP Responds
A priest who was convicted last November on charges that he sexually abused a child in the erily 2000s had his conviction vacated this week because a new judge believes the priest did not receive a fair trial. We are dismayed that the victim will have to go through yet another trial but are hopeful that the priest will once again be found guilty.
Rev. Hugh Lang was found guilty last November on charges that he abused a then-11-year-old boy in 2001. Despite the fact that the victim in this case traveled from the other side of the world to testify against his abuser, a new trial was ordered on Monday. Our hearts ache for this victim and the fact that his chance at justice has been taken away. We hope that this is only a temporary setback.
Currently, the victim’s attorneys are appealing to the state supreme court. We are hopeful their appeal is granted and this dangerous abuser’s conviction will stand and he will be given a sentence that keeps him away from children for the rest of his life.
CONTACT: Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Regional Leader, (636-433-2511, [email protected]), Zach Hiner, Executive Director (517-974-9009, [email protected])
(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; our Australia website is SNAPAustralia.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