IL--Victims blast Hastert over pension
For immediate release: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016
Statement by Barbara Blaine of Chicago, president of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (312-399-4747, [email protected])
We are sad but not surprised that Dennis Hastert is trying to get even richer. We hope he fails in his latest legal maneuver. http://www.fox5ny.com/news/220261923-story
Like the shrewd lawyer that he is, Hastert successfully exploited Illinois’ archaic, predator-friendly statutes of limitations to avoid being charged or sued for his child sex crimes. Now, he’s again selfishly trying to exploit legal technicalities so he can get more money for himself. Shame on him.
Hastert claims he was convicted years after he taught, so he should still get his teacher’s pension. But he was convicted for crimes – essentially hiding money – that were clearly tied to crimes he committed as a teacher – sexual abuse. The timing of his conviction should be irrelevant. The nature of his wrongdoing is most relevant.
A “win” here for Hastert would encourage more wrongdoers to work harder to hide their wrongdoing. And it would discourage victims of sexual violence from coming forward. Again, we hope Hastert loses.
No matter what state officials do or don’t do, we urge every single person who saw, suspected or suffered child sex crimes and cover ups in schools, churches or institutions – especially by powerful individuals – to protect kids by calling police, get help by calling therapists, expose wrongdoers by calling attorneys, and be comforted by calling support groups like ours. This is how kids will be safer, adults will recover, criminals will be prosecuted, cover ups will be deterred and the truth will surface.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 20,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact - David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
Imprisoned Dennis Hastert Fights for Tax-Covered Pension
His Lawyers Say Conviction Was for Violating Banking Laws, Not Specifically for Sexual Abuse
Posted on 11/28/2016 5:43 PM
CHICAGO (AP) - Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is citing a technicality in a bid to restore his tax-covered public school pensions as he serves a 15-month prison sentence in a hush-money case that stemmed from his sexual abuse of high school students.
Hastert's lawyers contend his conviction was for violating banking law between 2010 and 2015 as he sought to pay one victim . . .
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
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