HI- Man sues Honolulu Diocese for abuse and cover-up
We applaud this brave man for coming forward and using the tried-and-true court system to expose crimes committed against him.
It is heart-wrenchingly difficult to come forward and talk about abuse, especially when one of the men who abused you is a former bishop. Most importantly, however, is the fact that this brave victim is exposing a priest--Fr. Bolger--who is still living in Honolulu and who still has unfettered access to children.
Bolger is now the second retired priest in the Diocese of Honolulu to be accused. And although the men have multiple alleged victims, Bishop Clarence Silva has done little to nothing to ensure the safety of children in his diocese RIGHT NOW who are at risk from either Fr. Bolger or the other accused retired priest, Fr. George DeCosta.
We beg Bishop Silva to remove the faculties of both of these men and inform the communities where they live of the risk they pose.
We hope that anyone who has been abused in Hawaii--no matter the abuser-- comes forward and reports to law enforcement. We also urge anyone who has seen or suspected abuse to call the police, not church officials
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