Media Statements

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis, Survivors around the world are mourning what they perceive as the "tragedy" of his papacy—a preventable catastrophe for the children and vulnerable people who were abused during his tenure.

Last month, survivors delivered a final appeal to Pope Francis, warning him against issuing what they describe as a “misleading” papal exhortation on children that fails to mandate binding protections against their abuse under canon law. The letter, drafted by global survivors to be personally delivered by Juan Carlos Cruz — a survivor, papal advisor, and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors — urged Pope Francis to use his remaining time to implement a true zero-tolerance law that includes independent oversight of bishops.

For immediate release: April 18, 2025

According to documents recently ordered released by a federal bankruptcy judge, the Independent Review Board (IRB) for the Archdiocese of San Francisco -- tasked with reviewing child sexual abuse accusations against priests -- returned more than half of the clergy to ministry, including a priest with five abuse complaints. To SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, this is absolute madness. The released IRB minutes can be found here.

We know from studies that false accusations of child sexual abuse are extremely rare, and that those who prey on children seldom stop on their own. With the exception of incarceration, the most effective way to protect today’s children from those clergymen who would harm them, and to help victims and their families heal, is to publish the names, photographs, work histories, and current locations of the accused. It is important to keep in mind that these men are not just dangerous to Catholic children, but to all boys and girls who may come, or who may have come, across their paths.

While the 2002 Dallas Charter promised that Catholic bishops would be open and transparent with this information, the Archdiocese of San Francisco has so far refused to publish a list of their accused. It is the only Catholic Diocese in California without a list.

In fact, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone reportedly long denied that his Archdiocese even kept such information. But the recently released IRB minutes apparently put the lie to that claim.

Even more disturbing are all the missing names from the IRB list. When the San Francisco Archdiocese petitioned for bankruptcy in 2023, it faced 537 lawsuits for child sexual abuse. As of 2022, just 49 priests were found on the IRB’s list, including two dozen priests that were “cleared” of abuse.

South Orange, NJ — On Tuesday, April 15 at 11:00am, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) will hold a press conference in front of Seton Hall University (outside Ward Place Gate at the intersection of Ward Pl. and Seton Dr.) to deliver a critical announcement concerning the role of the U.S. Catholic cardinals in the next papal conclave. 

The event will focus in particular on Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, his central role in the ongoing suppression of results of an abuse investigation commissioned by the university, and SNAP’s conclusion that no American cardinal is qualified to lead the Catholic Church due to their extensive histories of enabling and covering up clergy sexual abuse.

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2025

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, has been alerted to the presence of two accused priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) at Immaculate Conception Church in the Diocese of Fairbanks.  The clerics are Frs. Gerardys Hauwert and Daniel Mentesana.

Countless times in the past, Catholic officials have "cleared' clerics and put them back into parishes, only later to have to remove them again when additional accusations are reported. We are concerned that this history could repeat itself in Alaska. 

Fr. Hauwert has been at Immaculate Conception since 2022. He was accused in a 2018 lawsuit of sexually abusing a vulnerable woman who went to him for help. The Diocese of San Jose agreed to a financial settlement with the woman. 

Fr. Mentesana had his canonical faculties in the Archdiocese of Baltimore revoked in 2021. The clergyman was accused of an inappropriate relationship with an adult female that occurred outside of the Archdiocese. Fr. Mentesana was a former chaplain at the National Shrine Grotto and the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, both located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Parish Bulletins from March 23 and March 30 have the cleric giving Lenten presentations at Immaculate Conception.

Back in June of 2021, Pope Francis changed Catholic Church law to explicitly criminalize the sexual abuse of adults by clergy. The new provisions became effective on December 8^th of that year, yet, as the situation in Fairbanks illustrates, clergy who are accused of sexual misconduct with adult men and women appear to continue to be free to minister in Catholic parishes.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) responds today to the death of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, one of the most notorious and powerful abusers in the modern history of the Catholic Church.

Let us be clear: McCarrick was never held accountable for his crimes. While he was eventually removed from public ministry, defrocked, and stripped of his red hat, he never stood trial for the vast harm he inflicted on children, young adults, seminarians, and others under his power. His death marks the end of his life—but it does not mark justice for his survivors.

For immediate release: March 28, 2025

Yesterday, federal bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali soundly rejected arguments that there was no bankruptcy purpose for the disclosure of meeting minutes prepared by the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Independent Review Board and of anonymous claims data submitted by survivors of childhood sexual abuse in the bankruptcy. SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful to the judge for his ruling, as well as to the creditors committee and their attorneys for pursuing the public release of this information.

Pachulski, Stang Ziehl & Jones attorney Brittany Michael, who represented the creditors’ committee, called the ruling “unprecedented.”  Along with the creditor’s committee co-chair Margie O’Driscoll, we hope that this decision will set a precedent so that all Catholic dioceses will be forced to be accountable and transparent about abuse, even if they file for bankruptcy.  

California SNAP leader and survivor, Dan McNevin, observed that "The knowledge gleaned from raw files in similar clergy cases in San Diego revealed a much more complete story of cover up."

SNAP Survivor Support Director, Melanie Sakoda, added, "San Francisco is the only California diocese without a list of "credibly accused" clergy. It is long past time secular authorities put an end to the secrecy."

Each cardinal, group says, is unfit to be the next pope

VATICAN CITY – After announcing a new initiative called Conclave Watch at a press conference Tuesday in Rome, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) formally delivered complaints yesterday against six cardinals to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See. The complaints, made under Pope Francis’ 2023 decree Vos estis lux mundi, charge each cardinal with covering up and mismanaging cases of abuse.

For Immediate Release: March 14, 2025

A man who was sexually abused as a child by the first Catholic priest to attract national media attention was beaten to death earlier this month. Our hearts ache for his family and loved ones in the wake of this tragic loss. We have only heard Scott Anthony Gastal's public story, but those who knew Scott personally realize that he was more than the worst thing that happened to him, and we hope that they will share that side of Scott in the coming days.

SNAP Louisiana leader, Letitia Peyton, called Scott’s murder was “a sad end to a life that was riddled with early childhood trauma.” But Letitia also credited Scott with “preventing so many other children from suffering the horrific abuse that he suffered,” and hailed him as “a truly brave little boy.”

Scott was repeatedly violated by Fr. Gilbert Gauthe. The priest was convicted in 1985 of abusing as many as 39 young children between 1972 and 1983. He spent 10 years in prison for those crimes. In 1997 he was convicted of abusing a 3 year old boy in Texas, where he now lives, and was sentenced to 7 months probation.

In 1986, at age 11, Scott courageously testified in open court that the priest had abused him so badly that he had to be hospitalized. Scott’s family ultimately won $1 million from the Diocese of Lafayette.

Sadly, the award did not end Scott’s suffering, which can be directly blamed on the Catholic officials who ignored, concealed, and enabled Fr. Gauthe’s horrific crimes.

For immediate release: March 13, 2025

Robert Morris, founding pastor of a megachurch in Southlake, Texas, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child yesterday. The indictment stems from accusations of child sexual abuse from the 1980s. Pastor Morris resigned from Gateway Church after the allegations became public last year.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is grateful for the persistence of the victim, Cindy Clemishire. We believe that her courageous actions will help to protect today’s children. This indictment shows that no one is beyond the law, not even a powerful, wealthy church leader.

Rome, Italy - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) announces that key members of its leadership team are currently in Rome launching a rigorous review of cardinals considered contenders for the papacy. While in Rome, SNAP officials, alongside international coalition partners, researchers, and other experts, will focus on each candidate’s record in handling clergy sexual abuse cases—both in their home countries and within the Vatican hierarchy.