SNAP Media Events

Victims to leaflet outside cathedral

Two child molesting clerics worked in Switzerland

Group urges church members & staff to report abuse

SNAP: “Catholic officials should do more to protect kids”

New Vatican abuse panel to hold 1st meeting

Victims beg committee: “Take immediate action”

Use 'bully pulpit' to 'denounce bad bishops,' they urge 

They also ask for open, public hearings in several countries

SNAP: “Vulnerable kids can't wait a year or two for Vatican steps”

“Practical moves, that require no study, are needed right now,” they say

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos, clergy sex abuse victims will call on Pope Francis' new child sex panel to take immediate steps to protect kids. Specifically, victims want the panel (at or shortly after their first meeting) to

--make public all agendas and minutes of their meetings,

--hold public hearings about the church's on-going abuse and cover up crisis in at least a dozen nations, and

They will also beg the panel to immediately denounce

--the new, secretive Italian bishops abuse policy, and

--Individual bishops who are clearly concealing or have concealed abuse.   

Victims leaflet outside church

Their concerns: JPII & predator priest

Twice accused Catholic cleric is still on the job

Put back into a parish, he now faces 2nd accuser

Self help group suspects others were also assaulted by him

In “unprecedented move,” archdiocese lets priest “self-regulate”

SNAP members will also denounce Pope John Paul II sainthood

WHAT

As parishioners leave mass, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will hand out fliers about their recently accused, suspended and re-instated priest who allegedly assaulted two children. The leaflets urge local Catholics to

Victims hold rooftop candlelight vigil in Rome

Event is just before Pope John Paul II is named a saint

With St. Peter's as backdrop, group honors 'the wounded, not the complicit'

They’ll also read an 'open letter' to victims & whistleblowers urging persistence

Group urges all who saw, suspected or suffered crimes & cover ups to 'speak up now' 

Victims plead with Vatican officials

“Please stop honoring wrongdoers like JPII,” they beg

SNAP: “Those who commit or conceal crimes keep getting praised” 

And that, they say, encourages other clerics to continue wrongdoing

Such callousness also deepens the pain of victims & parishioners, group charges

Two events in Rome on Friday, and one in Geneva in May, will feature victims

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood pictures at a news conference, clergy sex abuse victims from Australia, Spain, Austria and the U.S. will

Second man accuses priest

Cleric was put back on the job just last week

Church officials didn't believe first allegation

SNAP: “Suspend alleged predator immediately”

“Don't keep endangering children,” support group says

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims will disclose that 

Groups blast Vatican before UN panel

Victims & advocates file detailed new complaint

Top Catholic officials will soon be questioned in Geneva

A similar UN panel harshly criticized church after first such hearing

This time, it's the Committee Against Torture looking at church hierarchy

Groups document on-going Catholic child sex abuse scandal as 'acts of torture'

Their goal: to “expose, punish & deter widespread & systematic sexual violence”

WHAT

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, leaders of an abuse victims’ support group and a human rights organization will disclose and discuss their new formal complaint to a United Nations panel that sharply criticizes top Catholic officials for enabling and concealing sexual violence.

Next month in Geneva, Vatican officials will appear in person before that panel.

WHEN

Monday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m.  

Child sex lawsuit filed against Chaminade

SNAP: “No MO Catholic school has had more predators”

This accused cleric was arrested in IL on child sex charge 

He's one of eight credibly accused abusive local Marianists

One of them, “outed” in 2012, now faces at least 15 accusers

Group urges local Catholic officials to “post predators names 

And it urges other victims, witnesses & whistleblowers to “speak up” 

WHAT:

Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that another clergy sex abuse and cover up lawsuit is being filed against a West County Catholic school called Chaminade Prep.

They will also prod Chaminade officials to publicly disclose and post on the school website the names, photos and current whereabouts of all credibly accuse child molesters who have worked there 

And they will beg victims of predators at Chaminade, Vianney and St. Mary’s high schools to NOT contact church or school officials, but instead to contact law enforcement