SNAP Media Events

(For Immediate Release) 

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) speaks about the bankruptcy filing of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (AOB).

The AOB does not include parish assets in its declaration of assets but desires to have parishes protected by bankruptcy filing. They can’t have it both ways.

Survivors and supporters will attend the hearing to make their presence known to the bankruptcy judge followed by a protest at the Baltimore courthouse

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bs-md-archdiocese-next-step-20230929-7ynnqigrqzff7gy2b3abomevuu-story.html

WHAT: A sidewalk news conference, abuse survivors and advocates who are part of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, will demand that the AOB drop its bankruptcy filing in order to protect the patrimony of the Church. We will point out the hypocrisy of church officials.  We will demand that survivors be allowed to tell their stories in open court because justice requires it. For those who suffered from child sex crimes committed in the Archdiocese, there is no upside to this cruel and, in our opinion, unjustified legal tactic. SNAP believes that children, not secrets and assets, are what need to be protected.

WHEN: Tuesday 10/3/23 noon

WHERE: In front of the United States District Court in Baltimore.101 W Lombard St, Baltimore, MD 21201

For Immediate Release September 27, 2023

https://catholicreview.org/compensating-all-claims-of-abuse-archdiocese-considers-chapter-11-reorganization/

WHAT: A sidewalk news conference, abuse survivors and advocates who are part of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, will encourage survivors to come forward and seek help while updating them on the upcoming change in Maryland law on 10/1/23. The CVA will take effect. 

WHEN: Thursday 9/28/23 11:00 am

WHERE: In front of the Baltimore Basilica, 409 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201

WHO: 7-10 abuse survivors and advocates, including the Maryland SNAP Leader David Lorenz, who wants to reach out to adult survivors of sexual abuse and make them aware of the changes in Maryland law known as the Child Victim’s Act that will take effect on Sunday.  They will also call attention to the fact that the Archdiocese of Baltimore is floating the idea of declaring bankruptcy even before the first case is filed

For Immediate Release August 15, 2023

Northern District of Ohio | Northeast Ohio Priest Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Trafficking Minors, Exploitation and Child Pornography | United States Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs | Jury Convicts Priest of Sex Trafficking Three Victims in Northern Ohio | United States Department of Justice

Rev. David Morrier sentenced to probation for sexual battery | News, Sports, Jobs - The Herald Star (heraldstaronline.com)

Cincinnati priest pleads guilty to raping altar boy, gets 7 years in deal with prosecutors (fox19.com)

Glouster priest sentenced to 12 years in prison for unlawful sex with minor parishioner | Local News | athensnews.com

WHAT

The parents of Ohioans for Child Protection and local, national survivors of SNAP Network and other concerned members of the community will be holding a press conference to publicly ask Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to conduct a statewide investigation of the history and scope of child sexual abuse, trafficking, child sex abuse enabling and cover up in Ohio’s 6 Dioceses.

Victims push for new abuse probe

They ask DC AG to open investigation

SNAP: 'Dozens of abusers are/were here but remain hidden'

And they prod DC’s archbishop to reveal more predators

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hold a sidewalk news conference revealing the names of the "DC's Most Dangerous Dozen Child Molesting Clerics" - 12 proven, admitted &/or credibly accused predator priests who

--are still alive and presumably a threat to children now,

--are or were working and or living in the District of Columbia BUT

--are NOT on the official DC Catholic archdiocesan 'credibly accused' list.

They will also release copies of two letters they're sending:

--one to DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, urging him to launch a 'thorough, full-scale investigation, like 25 other AGs across the US have done, into Catholic clergy sex crimes and cover-ups in the Washington DC archdiocese,’ and

--one to DC Cardinal Wilton Gregory, urging him to add those names, and dozens of others, to his “woefully inaccurate and inadequate” list of 'credibly accused' abusive clerics on the archdiocesan website.

For immediate release July 1, 2023

Diocese of Oakland priest accused of child sexual abuse in a current lawsuit still in ministry in Orinda

As far as SNAP can tell, the faithful were never alerted and the cleric was never suspended

Survivors’ group wonders why the promises of the Dallas Charter were ignored?

Victims and advocates urge Bishop Michael Barber to be transparent with the parishioners of his Diocese and the public and explain why this happened

(For Immediate Release June 29, 2023) 

New pedophile priests are exposed

Victims want Peoria bishop to post ten more names

SNAP: “Kids aren’t safe until church ‘comes clean’ on abuse

Whistleblowers & victims are urged to ‘keep coming forward’

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, a clergy sex abuse victim will blast Peoria’s Catholic bishop for refusing to add the names of ten publicly accused child molesting clerics to the ‘credibly accused’ abusers list posted on his website.

--Two of them have never been ‘outed’ here even though they were in the Peoria Diocese, and

--Eight of them Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged Peoria’s bishop to add last month.

The victim will also

--call on all Catholic church members and employees to, 'for the safety of kids and the healing of victims,' circulate the names of the offenders and urge their church officials to do ‘more aggressive outreach to anyone who may have seen suspected or suffered their crimes,’ and

--urge anyone with information about or suspicions of clergy sex crimes to “keep coming forward to police and prosecutors, not to church figures.”

(For Immediate Release June 29, 2023)

New pedophile priests are exposed

SNAP: ‘15 of them were in Decatur’

Group to leaflet two local Catholic churches

Fliers ask parishioners to “spread the word” about clerics

Whistleblowers & victims are urged to ‘keep coming forward’

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos, a clergy sex abuse victim will

--disclose the names of more than a dozen proven, admitted or credibly accused abusive clerics who are or were in the Decatur area (based on a recent Illinois attorney general’s report, mainstream media accounts and Catholic church records),

--highlight several who are still alive and may still live in the area, and

-give leaflets to passers-by and put them on cars and homes to warn parents about several of the clerics who are still alive and may still be in the area.

He will also 

--call on all Catholic church members and employees to, 'for the safety of kids and the healing of victims,' circulate the names of the offenders and urge their church officials to do ‘more aggressive outreach to anyone who may have seen suspected or suffered their crimes,’ and

--urge anyone with information about or suspicions of clergy sex crimes to “keep coming forward to police and prosecutors, not to church figures.”

June 28, 2023

What:  Press Conference

When:  June 29, 2023, 9:00 a.m. EDT

Where:  Hilton Garden Inn, 216 Peregrine Way, Knoxville, TN 37922   (865) 690-6511

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tyskhgi-hilton-garden-inn-knoxville-west-cedar-bluff/hotel-location/

Who: 

• Susan Vance, a Tennessee leader of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)
• Patrick A. Thronson, Attorney for the Plaintiff, John Doe v. the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville and Bishop Richard Stika, Janet, Janet, & Suggs, LLC, Baltimore, MD
• John Spragens, Attorney for the Plaintiff, John Doe v. the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville and Bishop Richard Stika, Spragens Law PLC, Nashville, TN
• Andrew C. Fels, Attorney for the Plaintiff, Jane Doe v. the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville and Anthony Punnackal, Fels Law
• Dave Wells, former Director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart Cathedral

Why:  Commentary from attorneys as well as advocates following the resignation of Bishop Richard Stika of the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, TN

Join the complete press conference on Zoom:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86918275289 (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86918275289) You can sign into the meeting as early as 8:00 a.m. and will be let into the press conference at 9:00 a.m.  This will be recorded as well and made available to be seen later.

Summary: Pope Francis yesterday, June 27, 2023, confirmed the resignation of Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee.  At this press conference, you will hear from key players in the events that will unfold in this saga in Knoxville. There will be time for questions at the end. 

Links: 

New York Times:  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/27/us/bishop-richard-stika-resigns-vatican.html’’

Knoxville News Sentinel

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/27/knoxville-bishop-richard-stika-resign-amid-sex-abuse-lawsuits/69953710007/

Statement from Bishop Richard Stika

https://dioknox.org/news/bishop-stika-announces-retirement

Statement from Archbishop Shelton Fabre https://dioknox.org/news/message-from-apostolic-administrator

Contact:  Susan Vance, SNAP Leader Tennessee (865-748-3518  [email protected] snapnetwork.org) Mike McDonnell, SNAP Interim Executive Director (267-261-0578 [email protected])