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).
VA – Mennonite missionary charged with child sex crime
For immediate release Friday, December 1, 2017
Statement by Barbra Graber of Virginia, Volunteer SNAP Mennonite Leader ([email protected], 540-214-8874)
Federal agents arrested a Harrisonburg Mennonite missionary, James Daniel Arbaugh, on November 15 and charged him with felony coercion and enticement of a minor. Arbaugh had been a leader in the Haitian mission organization “Walking Together for Christ.”
http://www.missionaryjames.com/
https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070553/http://www.walkingtogetherhaiti.org/
NC, Guam –North Carolina Man files lawsuit in Guam alleging abuse by Catholic priest
For immediate release Friday, December 1, 2017
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, volunteer East Bay Leader for SNAP ([email protected], 925-708-6175)
SNAP applauds the plaintiff, B.G., who filed suit today in the District Court of Guam against the Catholic Archdiocese of Agana, the Boy Scouts of America, and retired priest Louis Brouillard. B.G., who now lives in North Carolina, states that Brouillard molested him when he was a Boy Scout in Guam in 1973 or 1974, aged 14 or 15. B.G. belonged to the Agana Boy Scout troop, of which Brouillard was a scout master.
CA – East Bay priest investigated for sexual misconduct, victims’ group responds
For immediate release Wednesday, November 29
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, volunteer East Bay Leader for SNAP ([email protected], 925-708-6175)
According to the Diocese of Oakland, Father Van Dinh from the parish of St. Michael in Livermore has been placed on administrative leave while the police investigate allegations of sexual misconduct. Authorities say that the Diocese called them on November 21st about an incident involving an unidentified 25-year-old man which had taken place a few days earlier at the church.
Massage Envy latest to be held responsible
For immediate release Wednesday, November 29
Statement by Kate Bochte, SNAP Leader, The Survivors Network, (SNAPNetwork.org) [email protected] 630-768-1860
We commend Tara Woodley for bravely sharing with the public her experience at a Washington, D.C. location of Massage Envy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/28/us/massage-envy-allegations/index.html
CA -- We Said Enough allegations shake up California capitol
For immediate release Wednesday, November 29
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, volunteer East Bay Leader for SNAP ([email protected], 925-708-6175)
Women in Sacramento are speaking up about sexual harassment and assault in state government, and demanding more effective ways of reporting than the old “whisper network.”
Survivors group urges reporting of sexual abuse
For immediate release Wednesday, November 29
Statement by Esther Hatfield Miller, Southern California Leader, SNAP, The Survivors Network, (SNAPNetwork.org) (562) 673-9442, estherhatfieldmiller@gmail.com
“Conservative movement urges new rules to prevent, report sexual abuse,” Times of Israel, November 29, 2017
TX-- Former priest on trial for murder
For immediate release Monday, November 27
Statement by Barbara Dorris, [email protected], 314 503 0003
We hope the trial of former priest John Feit for the 1960 murder of Irene Garza will bring peace to her family. We also hope that the outcome is just for all parties.
OH - SNAP Central Ohio announces Mansfield Support Group Meeting
For Immediate Release, Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Statement by Carol Zamonski of Columbus, Ohio, SNAP Central Ohio Leader for SNAP The Survivor’s Network (614 653-1502, [email protected])
SNAP Central Ohio announces an ongoing support group in the Mansfield, OH area for survivors of sexual abuse in hierarchies (any situation where the sexual abuser has more institutional power than the abused person does): Schools, Churches, Families, workplaces, etc.).
The support group welcomes people who suffered sexual abuse in an organization or hierarchy and also their supporters. It is a confidential support group dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual abuse in their search for healing. For more information about SNAP Support Groups see our website http://www.snapnetwork.org/support_groups
The Mansfield Area SNAP Support Group meets the third Saturday of each month from 2-4 pm in the Mansfield Area. For more information contact Carol Zamonski at 614 653-1502 or [email protected].
NY, AZ – Victim advocates to Catholic Church: #NoMore
For immediate release, Saturday, November 11, 2017
Statement by Melanie Jula Sakoda of Moraga, California, Volunteer Member of the Board of Directors and Volunteer East Bay Leader for SNAP, the Survivors Network (925-708-6175, [email protected])
Yesterday it was revealed that the Brooklyn Diocese of the Catholic Church had quietly posted on its website the names of seven former priests it says were defrocked for child sexual abuse.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/nyregion/brooklyn-diocese-priests-sexual-abuse.html
As Hollywood Abuse Scandal Grows, Clergy Victims Offer Support, Healing, Network
Statement by Esther Hatfield Miller, Southern California Leader, SNAP, The Survivors Network, (SNAPNetwork.org) (562) 673-9442, estherhatfieldmiller@gmail.com
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mones-harvey-weinstein-sexual-assault-20171022-story.html
Sexual abuse and harassment thrive when powerful institutions use fear, money, shame, fame, or religion to silence innocent victims.
Hundreds of brave victims coming forward in Hollywood have been silenced and shamed for decades, just like we were as children. We were all silenced out of fear— that, perhaps, we had done something to deserve the assault, the harassment, or the abuse.
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