Case Against Accused Priest that Ended in Hung Jury to be Re-tried
We are thrilled by the decision to re-try a Kansas City archdiocese priest whose trial last month ended in a hung jury. We believe this move will help keep children in Kansas safer and sends the message that abuse will not be tolerated.
The formal charges against Fr. Scott Kallal stemmed from abuse allegations from one girl, but during the trial at least two other girls testified. Going through a trial even once demonstrates real courage by this teenager and her family and they are to be applauded for their willingness to go trial a second time. We hope any others with knowledge of or suspicions about Fr. Kallal will be inspired by this bravery and step forward so these young girls who testified won’t have to shoulder this burden alone.
If the full truth is to be exposed here, it is crucial that victims, witnesses, and whistle-blowers come forward to law enforcement officials and report any information or suspicions. We hope that church officials in Kansas City, KS will take steps to urge parishioners and the public to share what they know with police and prosecutors now.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009)
(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
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