Media Statements

(For Immediate Release April 10, 2023) 

One of the world’s most influential religious leaders was forced to apologize following a viral video showing him apparently asking a young boy to “suck his tongue.” This story is another stark reminder of how powerful men can use their positions of power to benefit themselves at the expense of others, a thread that is all too common in cases of clergy sexual abuse.

The 14th Dalai Lama's apology follows a social media backlash against his behavior when a video of the incident, which happened at a gathering in the mountain city of Dharamshala in February, was shared on social media. In the clip, the child asks the Dalai Lama if he can give him a hug. The 87-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader then invites the boy on stage and points to his cheek and says, “first here,” prompting the boy to give him a hug and a kiss. After a few seconds, he then says, “suck my tongue,” poking his tongue out.

(For Immediate Release April 5, 2023) 

More than 30 Maryland clerics, brothers, sisters, and lay personnel accused of child sexual abuse who are named in the new Maryland Attorney General report, are NOT on the Baltimore Archdiocesan list of those "credibly accused." We are appalled and concerned.

We call on Archbishop William Lori to immediately:

• add these names to his list,
• publicly explain his recklessness and secrecy, and
• stop making hair-splitting and self-serving distinctions, such as refusing to list deacons, and
• start listing ALL Catholic church and school staffers who assault boys and girls, regardless of their titles status or positions.

(For Immediate Release April 5, 2023) 

Maryland’s Attorney General has released a long-awaited report on their investigation into Catholic clergy sexual abuse in their state. We're glad that the AG fought to release this report and hope that people throughout the region will read the report to better understand how and why clergy abuse and cover-ups were able to be perpetrated for so many decades

We are in complete awe of the brave victims who came forward to share their tragic experiences with the commission, they join a huge network of survivors who are changing the world and protecting others from these atrocities.

This report goes back as far as 80 years so this is a good picture of historical abuse. But we're most concerned about recent and ongoing abuse, and we hope that this news will encourage anyone who has been hurt by clergy in Maryland to come forward and get help.

(For Immediate Release April 4, 2023) 

This statement was written by New Jersey SNAP Leader, Mark Crawford

Topic: Should clergy be mandated reporters when a child discloses they are the victim of sexual abuse, even if learned in the confessional?

Why clergy MUST be mandated reporters when they learn of a child being sexually abused, yes, even if learned during the sacrament of confession.

As a young teenager, I was repeatedly sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by my parish priest several times a week for several years.  I eventually learned the same was true for my younger brothers. The priest insisted I go to him for confession, to confess my sins. That insistence was nothing more than a skilled predator ensuring I saw such actions as my complicity in the sexual contact the priest was perpetrating. In other words, the sin was mine, not his.

For a young teenager, these instances of sexual abuse were infused with a perpetrator's faux love and concern. The priest often willingly lavished me with material gifts I could otherwise never have and took me on many trips away from home.  These acts were torturous, causing mind-bending conflict and demanding a level of emotional response young children are not yet equipped with the ability to comprehend, causing confusion and great emotional distress.

I began to go to other priests for confession, in hopes of obtaining help to ensure such sexual contact stopped. I told the priests that another priest and I were having sexual relations but I wanted it to stop, that he was touching me in ways that would cause me to sin.  What I wanted was help, for someone to intervene and stop the unwanted sexual acts.  In all but one of these instances, the clerics failed to express a desire to help stop the abuse or even concern.  To my great dismay, it did not stop as no real help ever materialized. 

(For Immediate Release April 4, 2023) 

The Kansas House voted Monday to pass Senate Substitute for House Bill 2127, just days after the Senate overwhelmingly approved the legislation. The proposed bill will remove the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution of child sexual abuse and will also extend the time frame for civil lawsuits involving those crimes. 

If signed into law, the legislation will include child sexual abuse among the offenses for which a criminal investigation may be opened at any time. Additionally, the law will also permit civil claims for the recovery of damages associated with these crimes up to 13 years following the victim's 18th birthday, or three years following the abuser's criminal conviction for a felony linked to child sex abuse, whichever comes later.

We applaud these necessary reforms. However, we are disappointed that legislators in Kansas made the decision to exclude wording from the bill that would have given victims of child sex abuse who are beyond even this new civil statute of limitations their day in court.

The Senate Substitute for HB 2127 may give the impression to the public that victims who suffered horrific sexual abuse in the past can seek redress under this law, but this is not true. When enacted, the new law will remove the criminal statute of limitations for child sex abuse going forward. However, the United States Supreme Court has ruled in the past that such reforms cannot be applied retroactively. Moreover, the bill will do nothing for the hundreds of brave victims who have come forward and are already beyond the civil statute of limitations. Outspoken victims like Susan Leighnor, who blasted the recent report conducted by the KBI  and Kansas Attorney General’s Office and who testified recently regarding the importance of a retroactive window that would allow victims who have suffered horrific harm in the past their day in court, will still be unable to seek justice through the courts.

Susan graciously shared this comment with SNAP, "For all of the clergy abuse survivors who bravely came forward and told your personal stories of sexual abuse to the KBI, I remain committed to eliminating the antiquated statute of limitation laws in Kansas. I hear you and I support you in your recovery. Together, we will hold powerful institutions accountable for the harm done to us as children."

CONTACT: Mike McDonnell, SNAP Communications ([email protected], 267-261-0578) Zach Hiner, Executive Director ([email protected], 517-974-9009) Shaun Dougherty, SNAP Board President ([email protected], 814-341-8386) Janet Patterson SNAP Leader, Kansas (316-361-2575 [email protected])

(For Immediate Release March 31, 2023) 

The Maryland House of Delegates voted today in Annapolis almost unanimously in favor of the Child Victims Act of 2023.

We salute the Maryland legislators who approved the passage of the Child Victims Act (CVA) into the Senate. The outdated legislation will undergo much-needed reform as a result of the CVA's approval. We are very appreciative of Delegate C.T. Wilson for standing up for this truth and prioritizing the needs of the victims. Without the committed survivors and advocates who have worked so hard to create this opportunity for reform, none of this would be possible. We are hoping for a speedy Senate agreement to make this legislation a reality for the victims who have long carried the burden. A Senate companion bill has also been introduced by Sen. William C. Smith Jr.

According to reports, one of the Vatican’s top officials in charge of handling the ongoing clergy abuse crisis has abruptly resigned his post. To us, this is yet another signal that anyone waiting for change to come from within the Catholic Church itself will be waiting for a very long time.

(For Immediate Release March 23, 2023) 

Today, a panel of the Kansas State Senate will finally hold a hearing on legislation that would remove legal barriers preventing victims of child sexual abuse from seeking criminal and civil justice.  We support the efforts of the brave survivors who have worked so hard for this hearing, and we applaud their courage and persistence.

Senate Bill 317 would remove the statute of limitations on criminal charges going forward, as well as allow survivors to file lawsuits for damages until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, children who are victimized by coaches, clergy, family members, and others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.

Based on over 30 years of experience, we at SNAP believe that changing antiquated, arbitrary, predator-friendly statutes of limitations in both the criminal and civil arenas is the single most effective thing lawmakers can do to help prevent child sex crimes and cover-ups.

(For Immediate Release March 22, 20223) 

(For Immediate Release March 17, 2023) 

The Bishop of the Diocese of Oakland says he is “strongly” considering declaring bankruptcy because of an avalanche of lawsuits. Bishop Michael Barber directs his letter to “Parishioners and Friends” of the Diocese and laments the property he will need to sell and bankruptcy’s impact on his plan to realign parishes because of a priest shortage.

Nowhere in his letter does he lament the harm done to the 330 souls who have sued his Diocese. Nowhere does he acknowledge these people were part of the Oakland Diocese. They were baptized and confirmed, they were altar servers or attended Catholic schools. Their families entrusted their children to the priests who molested them, and those families donated their time and money to the Diocese. They in effect paid the clergy who destroyed their children's lives.

Bishop Barber is woeful about his problems but seems to view the victims simply as a large number and not human beings who deserve both his compassion as well as just reparations.