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).
MI--SNAP cheers the courageous survivor who confronted her abuser in court
For immediate release Wednesday, January 18, 2018
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
SNAP, the Survivors Network, applauds Kyle Stephens for speaking out publicly about her abuse at the hands of former USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar. At a sentencing hearing for Nassar on January 16 in Lansing, Michigan, Kyle told the court the repeated sexual assaults by the doctor took a terrible toll on her personally. The abuse began when she was only six years old and continued into early adolescence.
TX--Diocese of Ft. Worth hides documents--SNAP asks why?
For immediate release Thursday, January 11, 2018
Statement by Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003, [email protected]
We applaud the courage and the wisdom of this brave survivor. He came forward and reported these horrific crimes and had the wisdom to work with the civil justice system. We hope he will inspire others to come forward, despite the actions of the Diocese of Fort Worth.
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article194079414.html
IL --Catholic priest charged with child porn; survivors group grieves for the victims
For immediate release Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
A Catholic priest in Mascoutah, Illinois, Gerald R. Hechenberger, was charged yesterday with dissemination of child pornography. The clergyman worked at Holy Childhood Catholic Church in Mascoutah, as well as St. Pancratius in Fayetteville and St. Liborius in St. Libory. These are all Illinois parishes in the Diocese of Belleville http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article193595019.html
http://fox2now.com/2018/01/09/associate-pastor-charged-with-possession-of-child-pornography/
Child pornography is not a victimless crime. As members of the survivors group SNAP, we grieve deeply for the very real children who were hurt to produce these images.
SNAP sees red flags in Memphis megachurch’s support of pastor accused of sexually assaulting teenager
For immediate release Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
SNAP applauds Jules Woodson for speaking out about what happened between her and Reverend Andy Savage in 1998 when she was 17 years old. At the time, Savage was the youth pastor at Woodson’s church, Woodlands Parkway Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. The #MeToo movement inspired Woodson to confront Savage and to go public with her truth.
But the church’s response is full of red flags that concern those of us who monitor the sexual abuse of minors in religious communities, and that should concern everyone who wants to see minors protected and perpetrators exposed and kept from harming other young people. Though Woodson reported Savage’s assault to her church leaders in Houston, she said that they initially covered up the assault -- until she told her story to an all-woman discipleship group in the church.
Admitted abuser college prof to perform in Carnegie Hall with teens
Admitted abuser college prof to perform in Carnegie Hall with teens
MI College didn’t tell high school, churches about prof's past
“Adrian College duped production company and high school choir,” group says
A Michigan music professor who admitted to sexually molesting two teens while he was a teacher in California will be taking his choirs to Carnegie Hall in March, where they will be performing with a high school choir and four other groups.
SNAP, the Survivors Network (SNAPNetwork.org), believes that the neither the touring company, Mid-America Productions, based in New York City, Link: http://midamerica-music.com/concerts-2018-2/, nor any of the churches, colleges, or the high school involved, were warned about the Adrian College professor, Dr. Thomas Hodgman.
MN – Accused priest reinstated, SNAP responds
For immediate release Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Statement by Melanie Sakoda of California, Volunteer Member of SNAP’s Board of Directors (925-708-6175, [email protected])
On December 26, 2017, the Diocese of Crookston announced that it was reinstating a priest, Father Patrick Sullivan, who was placed on administrative leave in early 2016. A lawsuit was filed at that time alleging the clergyman had abused a 15 year old boy in 2008. No criminal charges have been filed against the priest. The clergyman has denied the allegations, and the diocese has stated that no other allegations have been made against him. Following an internal investigation, the diocese found the allegations were not credible. The suit is still pending.
OH – Columbus priest takes his own life in wake of allegations involving a minor, SNAP responds
For immediate release Friday, December 22, 2017
Statement by Judy Jones, Volunteer SNAP Midwest Associate Leader (636-433-2511, [email protected])
Father James Csaszar, former pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, Ohio, recently took his own life in Chicago. The priest had been on administrative leave since November 7th, when the Diocese of Columbus reportedly became aware of “excessive and questionable text and telephone communications with a minor.” The priest was working at Saint Rose Parish in New Lexington at the time of the inappropriate communications.
We here at SNAP, the Survivors Network, are extremely disturbed by the tone-deaf statement released by the Diocese of Columbus in response to Father Csaszar’s suicide.
Former Boston Cardinal Bernard Law dies at age 86
Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Western Regional Leader, (949) 322-7434, [email protected]
We are sure that many people will have mixed feelings about the death of Cardinal Bernard Law.
Survivors of child sexual assault in Boston, who were first betrayed by Law's cover-up of sex crimes and then doubly betrayed by his subsequent promotion to Rome, were those most hurt. No words can convey the pain these survivors and their loved ones suffered.
Our only hope is that the Vatican keeps these survivors in mind when it comes time for the cardinal’s funeral. We highly doubt there is a single victim of abuse who will ever receive the same attention, pomp and circumstance by Pope Francis. Every single Catholic should ask Pope Francis and the Vatican why. Why Law’s life was so celebrated when Boston's clergy sex abuse survivors suffered so greatly? Why was Law promoted when Boston’s Catholic children were sexually abused, ignored, and pushed aside time and time again?
Australia Royal Commission Recommends Sweeping Child Safety Changes in Catholic Church, Victims Respond
Statement by Steven Spaner, SNAP Australia Coordinator, [email protected], +1 (314) 994-3534
The findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission are a watershed moment in the child safety movement. Institutions and wrongdoers across Australia are now on notice that turning a blind eye to child sexual abuse abuse—or covering up abuse to save the reputation of a church or a school—is no longer tolerable.
Bishops will be quick to scoff that the report is anti-Catholic and an attack on the tenets of the faith. That is not true. The report is an attack on bad conduct—bad conduct that must stop. The way to stop bad conduct is through strict adherence to good policy. It also requires that the laity, whose children have been so deeply hurt, become stakeholders in the decision-making process.
NY--Archdiocese says abuse in the past, yet refuses to open secret files
For immediate release Thursday, December 14, 2017
Statement by Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Director (949) 322-7434 cell, [email protected]
The New York Archdiocese has known about the extent of child sex abuse in its boundaries for decades. It’s a shame that it’s taken until now for church officials to finally reach out to a small portion of victims who have suffered childhood sexual assault by members of the clergy.
Any step that helps victims on the path to healing should be applauded. We hope that the Archbishop Dolan will expand the program in 2018 to help those abused in the New York Archdiocese by religious order priests, nuns, brothers and lay employees. These groups also worked with NY children under the supervision of the Archbishop.
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