IL- Meeting tonight re accused priest
New archbishop keeps ignoring victims
Twice, SNAP has asked Cupich to discuss cleric
But new Chicago archbishop won’t even reply to them
Priest is still in a parish now, despite two child sex accusations
Roughly 20 parishioners & victims will share what they know about “troubling situation”
WHAT:
Disappointed that Chicago’s new archbishop continues to ignore their invitations, clergy sex abuse victims and concerned Catholics will hold an open “town hall meeting” about a twice-accused predator priest who is still on the job in a local parish.
WHEN:
TONIGHT - Thursday, Jan. 22 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE:
The Lincoln Belmont Public Library (1659 W. Melrose Street Chicago 60657; 312-744-0166).
WHO:
Concerned congregants and members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
WHY:
Twice SNAP has invited new Archbishop Blase Cupich to a town-hall meeting to educate and warn church-goers about a twice-accused priest working in their parish. The event will be held tonight, regardless of whether Cupich responds or not.
http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_to_cupich_come_meet_with_us
SNAP also wants Cupich to:
1) Suspend Fr. Michael W. O’Connell from his post at St. Alphonsus, and
2) Personally visit St. Alphonsus and Our Lady of the Woods (Orland Park) and beg anyone who may have information or suspicions about crimes or misdeeds by Fr. O’Connell to call police.
Fr. O’Connell was the subject of a criminal child sex abuse investigation and is accused of abusing two boys, in separate incidents.
Fr. O’Connell was temporarily suspended in December 2013 after the archdiocese received an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a boy at Our Lady of the Woods in Orland Park years earlier. In April of this year, Cardinal Francis George reinstated Fr. O’Connell even though the Cook County Sheriff’s Department never closed the criminal case.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2014/03_04/2014_04_22_Goudie_FrMichael.htm
Weeks later, new allegations surfaced involving alleged abuse of a different boy in the 1990s.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2014/03_04/2014_04_21_Francine_Sun-Times_Cook_priest.htm
Authorities have put the investigation on and archdiocesan officials are keeping Fr. O’Connell on the job. Catholic officials claim O’Connell is to avoid the parish school and will not be alone with a child, a contention that SNAP calls “ludicrous and dangerous.”
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2014/03_04/2014_04_22_Francine_Sun-Times_Priest_be.htm
CONTACT
Barbara Blaine, SNAP President- 312-399-4747, [email protected]
Kate Bochte, SNAP Leader- 630-768-1860
Read the first letter of invitation to Archbishop Cupich for the Town Hall Meeting.
Read the second letter of invitation to Archbishop Cupich for the Town Hall Meeting.
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