Has Pope Francis known about the allegations against Cardinal McCarrick for years?
For immediate release, August 26, 2018
Statement by Tim Lennon, SNAP President, [email protected], 415-312-5820
Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador to the United States, claims that he spoke with Pope Francis about allegations that Cardinal Theodore McCarrick engaged in sexual misconduct with priests and semanarians in 2013. The archbishop also claims that Pope Benedict had removed the cardinal from public ministry, but that Pope Francis "rehabilitated" him.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pope-knew-of-abuse-says-archibishop_us_5b82b6cde4b072951513d381
We are obviously in no position to confirm or refute Archbishop Vigano's allegations. However, it is notable that this is the first time that someone from within the Vatican hierarchy has publicly accused a pope of covering up for an abuser.
Just yesterday we issued a press statement urging the pope to stop talking and start doing on the allegations of clergy sexual abuse he called "repugnant."
http://www.snapnetwork.org/pope_francis_condemnations_get_longer_yet_not_one_child_is_safer
If the archbishop's allegations are true, this situation provides a dramatic illustration of the gap between rhetoric and decisive action. Saying that something is scandalous is for survivors like me and groups like SNAP use our voices because that is the only power we have. Pope Francis has the power, but apparently does not have the will, to effect necessary change, whether or not he intervened on Cardinal McCarrick's behalf.
Moreover, we strongly disagree with Archbishop Vigano's attempts to falsely characterize the clergy sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Predatory behavior within faith communities is not about sex, it is about power and control. Men, women, boys and girls are all targets of this despicable behavior. Abusers can be extremely liberal or extremely conservative, and everywhere else in between.
The archbishop's rhetoric, like the pope's, does nothing to solve the problem. Not one child in the world has been made safer by his false assessment of the problem.
SNAP urges everyone who suffered, witnessed or suspected clergy sex crimes and cover ups to come forward. Report to law enforcement, therapists and support groups like ours, not to the Church. We also urge everyone to prod your local AG to launch an investigation just like the on-going one in Pennsylvania, and also join us in demanding a federal investigation like those that have been implemented in other countries.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/survivors_and_supporters_urged_to_demand_investigations_in_every_state
We urge everyone who saw, suspected or suffered clergy sex crimes and cover ups to come forward, but call independent sources of support - police, prosecutors, therapists and support groups, not church-hired individuals.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been working for thirty years to support victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings and has more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - Tim Lennon (415-312-5820, [email protected]); Melanie Sakoda, (925) 708-6175 [email protected], Becky Ianni (703-801-6044, [email protected])
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
Showing 1 comment