Media Statements

Jefferson City Catholic officials today released the names of 33 priests and religious brothers who have been "credibly accused" of acts which violate the Dallas Charter. This is a long overdue but inadequate first step. 

The Diocese of Harrisburg announced today that they are creating a victims compensation fund to aid survivors of clergy abuse in their diocese. Other diocese in Pennsylvania are expected to follow suit.

California's attorney general announced today that he is soliciting complaints and information regarding incidents of sexual misconduct by clergy members. SNAP applauds this important development.

For immediate Release: November 7, 2018

The AP reported last week that, for thirty years, the Diocese of Sioux City knew a priest had abused at least 50 children. However, the Diocese chose to conceal this fact from the public, and in doing so put additional young people at risk of serious harm for decades.

A new report from the National Catholic Reporter shows that Cardinal Daniel DiNardo – then the Bishop of Sioux City and today the Cardinal in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – would have been aware of Fr. Jerome Coyle’s 1986 confession that he had molested dozens of children over a twenty year period. This fact, combined with Cardinal DiNardo’s previous mishandling of abuse allegations in Sioux City, as well as his recent failure with similar allegations against a priest in Conroe, TX, is, in our opinion, proof positive that Cardinal DiNardo is unfit for his role as the head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

For immediate release, November 7, 2018

For nearly 30 years, Sioux City bishops, including the current one, hid the fact that Father Jerome Coyle was an admitted pedophile. Yesterday, the Diocese asked for survivors to come forward. 

SNAP has begged Church officials for decades to seek out other victims of know abusers. After putting innocent children at risk for decades, it seems to us that the Sioux City Diocese is only now asking people to come forward because parishioners and the public are appalled at what was concealed for so long. 

Pope Francis' US point person on abuse told the The Inquirer that he was "shocked" to learn that so many of his colleagues were hiding abuse and abusers. Frankly, we do not understand his reaction at all.

In 2003, a popular coach at a Kentucky high school was accused of sexual abuse. Fifteen years later, he is still working around kids.

Even after a nationally-run expose into secret files, the spread of a federal investigation to their diocese, and a 60 minutes profile of the brave whistleblower who brought those files to light, church officials in Buffalo are still keeping secrets.

CONTACT: Peter Isely, Founding Member, SNAP (414-429-7259, [email protected])

It is being reported today that at least four ex-priests with histories of abusing children were granted or renewed licenses to practice social work and related professions in Wisconsin under Governor Scott Walker. All four have been identified by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as priests with substantiated histories of sexual abuse or misconduct.

Iowa’s attorney general announced that he is opening an inquiry into the handling of clergy abuse cases by Catholic dioceses throughout his state.