SNAP Media Events
SC--State’s largest church loses three men
Two face recent charges of child sex crimes
The 3rd, the head pastor, was fired for “alcohol abuse”
Group urges “independent investigation” into “network”
“Independent churches are ripe for wrongdoing,” SNAP says
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
--blast officials at a state-wide mega-church where two volunteers were recently charged with abuse and the ‘founding pastor’ has been fired for “unfortunate choices and decisions,"
--urge anyone who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes, cover ups or other misconduct there to call secular authorities, not church officials, and
--warn church-goers that abuse and cover up is sometimes more prevalent in independent mega-churches that are often started and dominated by powerful personalities and lack any real “checks and balances” that are usually found in more established denominations.
GA--Victim of pedophile priest speaks for first time
Last month, man reached $4.5 million settlement
The convicted child molester now lives in Maryland
But he spent years in Georgia working in five towns
Group wants Savannah bishop to “do aggressive outreach”
“With some effort, pedophile might be locked up again,” SNAP says
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, a Georgia man who was repeatedly molested as a boy by the state’s most notorious pedophile priest will speak publicly for the first time about his experiences and his sizeable settlement last month with Savannah Catholic officials. He’ll be joined by his attorney.
And clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
--blast Catholic officials in four states for their handling of the priest,
--urge them to “do aggressive outreach” so he might be prosecuted again, and
--beg anyone who “saw, suspected or suffered his crimes” to call police or prosecutors immediately.
IL--Victims push for stronger child sex abuse laws
Victims push for stronger child sex abuse laws
They predict: “Hastert will try to get out early”
Group says “Give us more time to expose predators”
It backs both new federal plan and state reform too
SNAP also honors one of Hastert’s victims who spoke up in court
WHAT:
Carrying signs and childhood photos, in the wake of Dennis Hastert’s imprisonment, abuse victims march through downtown Chicago and hold a news conference.
MO--The 50th local St. L area abusive priest is sued
The 50th local St. Louis area abusive priest is sued
Cleric has never been accused or sued before
The victim, Tom Viviano, speaks publicly for 1st time
Two other priests, man says, saw but didn’t stop the crimes
SNAP to others: “Even if perpetrator is dead, it’s important to speak up”
WHAT:
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, a clergy sex abuse victim will speak for the first time publicly and disclose that
--his new child sex abuse and cover up case is being filed,
--it “outs” a never-before-accused local Catholic priest, and
--at least two other priests saw the abuse happened but did not stop it.
RI--Victims prod bishop on accused priests
Victims prod RI bishop on accused priests
He’s keeping names of at least 95 accused clerics hidden
Five other predators abused elsewhere but worked in RI
Support group discloses their identities & pushes for “openness”
It says Catholic officials “endanger kids” with “continued secrecy”
Bishop should also post child molesting clerics' names, victims say
SNAP: “Roughly thirty other bishops across the US have done this”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that at least
--95 accused predator priests in Rhode Island remain hidden, and
--five predator priests who abused elsewhere also worked in RI but have attracted little or no public or media attention here.
CT--Predator priest case goes to Supreme Court
Predator priest case goes to Supreme Court
Cleric claims 15 year old basically consented
Victims group deplores “mean-spirited legal hardball”
SNAP also prods archbishop to post pedophiles’ name
About 30 US Catholic officials have taken this “safety step”
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that
--an unusual clergy sex case has been accepted by the CT Supreme Court,
--it’s against a never-before-accused priest who lived in CT for 65 years, and
--it focuses on whether a 15 year old victim “consented” because he didn’t fight back when he was being assaulted.
KS--New abuse & cover up lawsuit is filed
New abuse & cover up lawsuit is filed
It’s against big Lenexa non-denominational church
Officials there knew man had molested others before
Still, they let him volunteer at Vacation Bible School
And he assaulted two young kids and is now in prison
He told one girl he’d go after her youngster sister if she didn’t comply
SNAP: Independent ‘mega-churches’ are “next frontier” in abuse cases
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
-- disclose a new civil abuse and cover up lawsuit against a large KC area mega-church, and
-- urge parents and congregation members to require these churches to enact policies to protect children.
The group predicts that more and more sex scandals are emerging and will continue to emerge in large, independent ‘mega-churches’ because their pastors are often very powerful and charismatic and there’s little or no lay oversight or church hierarchy that might hold predatory preachers accountable.
IL--Archdiocese, Claretian Order “not truthful” about admitted predator
Media:
Press Event:
Victim of former Back of the Yards priest speaks out