Resignation of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Accused of Abuse Accepted
The resignation of an auxiliary bishop with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been accepted by the Pope today following a review board’s recommendation that “he not be allowed to minister because of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor in the 1990s.”
Bishop Alexander Salazar is now the fourth prelate in the United States to have stepped down over the past six months. The others are Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of DC, Bishop Michael Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston and Auxiliary Bishop John Jenik of New York.
We are hopeful that this will lead to future action against other bishops who have minimized, concealed, or perpetrated sex crimes. According to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer and Boston Globe, that number could be as high as 130 bishops.
Still, we are perplexed and dismayed by the actions of the archdiocese in this case. According to Archbishop Jose Gomez, the Archdiocese has been aware of the allegation against Bishop Salazar since 2005. That means they allowed him to work around children and vulnerable adults for at least thirteen years before taking action. This is indefensible.
Yes, Archdiocese of LA reported the allegation for investigation. However, that investigation was an internal one, conducted by church officials and the Vatican. Given the church’s history of minimizing crimes and protecting reputations over survivors, such a probe is not something that members of the public can have faith in. Only independent investigations by law enforcement professionals can determine the facts, and we believe such an investigation is sorely needed in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
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