Media Statements

SNAP applauds the release of lists but says that true transparency comes through investigations and urge independent authorities to “trust but verify.”

As advocates and survivors of clergy sexual abuse, we believe that any and all transparency is to be applauded coming from a closed and secret culture such as the Roman Catholic Church. The releasing of these names is at least one small step towards transparency. Still, we are concerned that these lists might not be as transparent as promised.

For immediate release, January 31, 2019

Last week, a United Nations committee focused on children’s rights questioned the Italian government about clerical sexual abuse in the country, “expressing concern over laws that protect predator priests from criminal charges.”

For immediate release, January 31, 2019

A man from Ridgeland, MS has filed a lawsuit against the Diocese of Jackson alleging that he was abused in 2004 as a 9 year old. We applaud this brave man for taking action to expose clergy sex crimes and cover ups in the Jackson diocese.

Despite pledges to be transparent, Northeast Jesuit officials  refused to tell Fordham University students and staff if any abusive clerics were living on-campus.

A clergyman who was accused at least twice of abuse in New York City not only remained on the job there, he also continued working in southern California.

We applaud the New York State assembly for taking this much-needed step towards prevention, justice, and accountability. The passage of the Child Victims Act sends a strong signal to survivors that their experiences have not been forgotten and that preventing future cases of abuse is critical. By opening this civil window and allowing cases to proceed, survivors of sexual assault now have a chance to expose their abusers in court and help ensure other children are safe, something that would not have been possible but for this much-needed reform.

After an allegation of sexually assaulting a woman in a confessional surfaced publicly months ago, a high-ranking Vatican official has finally stepped down from his prominent role today. Church officials now say the allegation will be "examined formally." We cannot help but feel that this was only in response to continued media coverage of the case, not out of concern for vulnerable parishioners.

A priest just publicly declared a “credibly accused” child molester by a Kansas archbishop now apparently lives in Denver.

Today Fr. Hugh J. Lang was arrested and charged with the alleged sexual abuse of a 10 year old child in 2001.

We hope anyone who may have suffered, seen or suspected crimes by Fr. Lang, or any others associated with the Diocese of Pittsburgh, will call the police immediately. Victims, witnesses and whistle blowers can also reach out to SNAP, or groups like ours, for help and support as they report. 

We also urge Bishop David Zubik to contact his flock and diocesan employees and remind them, and direct them, that they should be reporting clergy sex crimes to the police. That is, after all, is the right thing to do to make sure that those who abuse children are kept away from the innocent.  

Contact:  Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Leader (636-433-2511, [email protected]), Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009,[email protected])

(SNAP, the Survivors Network, has been providing support for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings for 30 years. We have more than 25,000 survivors and supporters in our network. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)