Lafayette diocese's list of priests accused of sexually abusing children could be out soon
The Catholic Diocese of Lafayette has yet to release its own list of priests accused of sexually abusing children. But diocesan spokeswoman Blue Rolfes says it is in the works and could be wrapped up soon.
"We’re very near the end of the process," Rolfes said. "We hope within the next week or two to release the list."
Members of the diocese's lay review board are searching for accusations against clergy by combing through 50 years of personnel records for the hundreds of priests who have served in the diocese, Rolfes said. With the help of local attorneys, the group already has spent months on the project, she said.
"We're doing due diligence on everything," Rolfes said. "We’re examining every single piece of paper and hard copy that we can to make sure we're not missing anything."
Dioceses across the state and country are naming accused priests
Whenever the Lafayette diocese releases the names, it will join a growing number of others in the U.S. to do so. These lists of accused priests come on the heels of a damning Pennsylvania grand jury report made public in August that found widespread clergy sex abuse and church cover-up in six of the st...
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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