Media Statements

AG keeps agreement with bishops secret

He rejects SNAP’s Sunshine Act request

So victims ask AG & bishop for voluntarily release

SNAP: “If you’ve nothing to hide, disclose the deal”

Group says Schmitt’s abuse report is “the worst ever”

And it reveals 60 pages of never-seen-abuse records

Some are about ‘sex ring’ with three St. Louis seminarians

The Archdiocese of New York today released the results of an “independent” investigation into their policies and procedures. While this report is ostensibly an attempt at transparency, it really feels like another move by church officials to handle allegations of abuse in house.

The Diocese of Lansing, MI today released their list of priests that have been accused of abuse. We hope that this release will bring hope and healing to survivors and will help protect more children from being victimized in the future.

Cardinal William Levada has passed away. In his wake, he leaves behind a legacy of obfuscation, cover-up, and minimization of cases of clergy abuse.

State police in Rhode Island have taken a major step forward in helping investigate cases of clergy abuse by creating a confidential hotline for survivors, witnesses, and whistleblowers. We applaud this move and hope that other states around the country will follow suit.

One of Pennsylvania’s largest Catholic dioceses is petitioning that state’s supreme court for “extraordinary relief” in an effort to avoid the consequences of years of enabling and minimizing cases of clergy abuse. We hope that their petition fails and that the lawsuits brought by survivors will be allowed to move forward.

Archbishop Charles Chaput today turned 75, the age at which prelates are to submit their resignation to the pontiff. Often, the Vatican ignores this. But in this case we hope Pope Francis will act quickly to replace Archbishop Chaput with a cleric who is willing to courageously confront the archdiocese’s continuing abuse and cover up scandal. 

In response to the growing scandal in the Diocese of Buffalo, church officials have rolled out their latest solution – updated policies and procedures for priests who abuse others. We have no faith whatsoever that this latest move will have any real impact in the diocese.

Leaders from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, are grateful that a handful of Catholic school alumni are raising money to address the issue of clergy abuse. We hope other classes will follow their lead. But while they appreciate and honor this interest in helping victims, SNAP strongly urge them to instead put the money they are raising towards preventing future cases of sexual abuse.