Media Statements
We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
Rhode Island Church Knowingly Employed Child Abuser for 20 Years
A church in Rhode Island has knowingly employed a child abuser for twenty years, potentially giving this dangerous man access to vulnerable children. This open and flagrant violation of the Dallas Charter should demand an immediate response from church officials in Rhode Island and the Vatican.
Canadian Clergy Abuse Survivors Demand Full Disclosure from Bishops
Cornwall, Ontario: Following a Papal Summit on clergy sexual abuse in Rome, a group of Canadian clergy abuse survivors will be in Cornwall, Ontario to lobby the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops while they gather for their Plenary Assembly on September 23-26. The survivors meet with a representative group of bishops on September 22 and have events planned throughout the week.
Diocese of Wichita Finally Releases List of Accused Priests
Finally, 17 years after US church officials began posting the names of priests accused of abuse on church websites, Wichita’s bishop has taken this step himself. Parents, police, parishioners, prosecutors and the public should look closely at this release and ask the bishop why it took so long for this list to be published.
Non-Profits Join Forces To Help Victims Of Child Sexual Abuse And To Educate The Public On This Topic
Later this month, multiple non-profit organizations will gather to present an open forum to educate the public and to address issues surrounding child sexual abuse:
Archdiocese of Washington Revises Child Protection Policy, SNAP Reacts
Church officials in Washington D.C. have revised their child protection policy, claiming to add new protections. However, it is not policies that need to be changed, but the actions of those charged with enforcing those policies that needs to change if the faithful are to be protected.
Advocacy Group for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse Urge Judge to Uphold Sentence
A Catholic priest, who pleaded guilty to child sexual abuse and received the maximum term, will have his petition for reconsideration of the sentence heard tomorrow.
SNAP Stands with Monk who Reported Abuse by Msgr. Craig Harrison
According to media reports, a monk who reported witnessing and experiencing abuse at the hands of a popular Bakersfield priest is being sued for defamation. Aggressive perpetrators of sexual abuse sometimes resort to defamation lawsuits and other legal tactics to silence victims and intimidate witnesses. We fear that is what is happening in this situation.
Trial Begins for Anglican Priest Accused of Abuse in Fresno
Yet another Fresno priest is accused of sex crimes and we beg those with information or suspicions about him to call police immediately.
Accused Sacramento Priest Sues Bishop who ‘Outed’ Him
A priest accused of abuse who worked and lives in Sacramento is tilting at windmills by suing the bishop who publicly exposed him. In 30 years, we've never seen such a suit succeed, but we suspect the priest's real goal is to deter other victims, witnesses and whistleblowers from speaking up.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director