'It's overwhelming': Survivors create public list of Catholic clerics accused of sexual abuse
Starting at the age of 10, Miriam MacCormack says she was sexually abused by a Catholic priest for two years. After five decades of struggle — including suicide attempts — MacCormack will see her abuser's name made public. But not by the southwestern Ontario diocese of London, where the abuse occurred.
MacCormack's abuser, Father Ron Reeves, now dead, is among the names of 36 accused clergy compiled and published by a group of sexual abuse survivors.
MacCormack said the list is important as validation of what happened to her.
"If you sit down and you look at the list, it's hard to deny that this has happened."
The list includes a number of high-profile cases that have been in the public domain for years, but also the names of priests for whom the church settled lawsuits brought by victims.
In some cases, the allegations were never tested in court. In other cases, victims signed non-disclosure agreements, preventing the details from being made public.
"To see all these names compiled in one list, it's overwhelming … and this is by the way an incomplete list. This is only the names that we were able to gather," said Brenda Brunelle of Windsor, who is lea...
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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As many are aware, we gathered in Cornwall, ON in September where all Canadian Bishops meet for their annual assembly with a strong desire to address all Bishops on the crisis of Clergy Abuse, transparency and the need for an independent body to create a database for all credibly accused.
We never were granted a meeting with all bishops, only a handful. The meeting went well and ver friendly, but our group was not there to make friends, rather get results.
Since this gathering in Cornwall, SW. Ontario reps worked tirelessly in compiling a list of those we were able to gain access to through our own personal contacts and the through a lawyer who has worked on some claims filed within this Diocese.
Jerry Boyle of Cambridge Ontario and myself from Windsor ON Released the list of names of those credibly accused in the London Diocese. WE did this through the great help, support and assistance of our SNAP family.
We are proud leaders of SNAP, we are privileged to speak on behalf of SNAP, and fortunate to have our names and telephone numbers published on this website for Canadian Reporters to contact us regarding issues involving Canada.
It is a proud day for Ontario, it is a proud day for me to see this story become SNAP’s story of the day!
To those of you I count as my friend and supporter, Thank you
Brenda Brunelle SW ONtario Leader SNAP Canada